Expanding Access to the Medicare Data -- HCCI QE Data Announcement

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) recently released its final rule implementing Section 105 of the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) to expand how qualified entities (QE) can use and disclose data. The Final Rule (CMS-5061-F) explains how QEs can provide or sell combined data, or provide Medicare data at no cost, to certain authorized users.

The Health Care Cost Institute (HCCI), as the nation’s first national qualified entity, welcomes the opportunity to collaborate with authorized users and others to achieve the promise of MACRA.  HCCI will hold Medicare data for Parts A, B, and D for every state in the country and can conduct public and non-public analysis using identifiable and non-identifiable data as permitted by the Rule.  If your organization is generally interested in the Medicare program or HCCI’s QE public reporting program, or is an authorized user under 43 CFR §401.703: a provider, supplier, medical society, hospital association, employer, health insurance issuer, healthcare provider and/or supplier association, a state entity, or a federal agency, and it is interested in better understanding the Medicare population generally or your Medicare population specifically (in a manner consistent with MACRA and the Final Rule), HCCI encourages you to reach out to David Newman, HCCI’s executive director, to discuss how your organization and HCCI can work together.  David can be reached at 202-803-5200 or through email at dnewman@healthcostinstitute.org.