APCD Council
NAHDO’s learning collaborative — the All-Payer Claims Database (APCD) Council — is the nation’s premier collaborative of subject matter experts providing supportive technical assistance on topics related to APCDs.
All NAHDO APCD-related work falls under the scope of this collaborative. The APCD Council has a long history of supporting the development and operation of all-payer claims databases across the country through shared learning, facilitated peer communication, national advocacy, and technical assistance.
Core Council Functions
- Peer Learning: Regular forums for state data leaders to share operational models and solve technical challenges.
- Standardization & Guidelines: Developing and maintaining national standards, including the APCD-CDL™.
- Continuous Improvement: Accelerating innovation across claims collection, data quality, and release practices.
- Advocacy & Technical Support: Providing hands-on guidance and communicating the value of state databases.
State Implementation Support
- Facilitating multi-agency and public-private stakeholder sessions
- Statutory analysis and health data policy review
- Rule development and regulatory compliance frameworks
- Vendor procurement and technical evaluation assistance
- Analytics architecture, data linkage, and reporting support
- Cross-state data sharing networks and shared technical toolkits
APCD Council History
The APCD Council began in 2007 as the Regional All-Payer Healthcare Information Council (RAPHIC), a convening initiative created to bring together Northeast states that were pioneering or operating All-Payer Claims Database systems.
Originally focused on regional data harmonization, RAPHIC quickly expanded as states nationwide sought structured guidance on claims data legislation, rules, and technical architectures. In 2010, the initiative was renamed the APCD Council to reflect its nationwide scope and mandate.
For many years, the Council was convened jointly by NAHDO and the Institute for Health Policy and Practice at the University of New Hampshire, a partnership that produced the APCD Common Data Layout (APCD-CDL™).
Today, the APCD Council operates as the premier collaborative bridging government agencies, academic researchers, and industry partners to advance state claims data infrastructure, convened and coordinated by NAHDO.
Explore state APCD efforts, the APCD Showcase, and the APCD-CDL™ on the APCD Council website.