Aetna, Humana, Kaiser Permanente and UnitedHealth Group have agreed to share claims data with researchers through the Health Care Cost Institute, a non-profit aimed at increased healthcare cost transparency by identifying trends and drivers of healthcare costs, according to a New York Times report.
The insurers will provide the claims data — which will not include any identifying information on patients or providers — on a regular basis, but will not have access to the aggregate data not will it be accessible to the public. Data sets will be provided to qualified researchers by the Institute, and the Institute will produce twice yearly reports on changes in healthcare prices. The move marks the first time private insurer claims data will be made available to researchers for public reports, according to the report. Medicare claims data has long been publicly available.
The insurers will provide the claims data — which will not include any identifying information on patients or providers — on a regular basis, but will not have access to the aggregate data not will it be accessible to the public. Data sets will be provided to qualified researchers by the Institute, and the Institute will produce twice yearly reports on changes in healthcare prices. The move marks the first time private insurer claims data will be made available to researchers for public reports, according to the report. Medicare claims data has long been publicly available.