As the data stewards of statewide health care reporting programs, the members of the National Association of Health Data Organizations (NAHDO) recognize that Medicare data have a great deal of value and could be used more effectively to inform health care improvement initiatives. States also understand the tension between controlled use and unregulated access that has limited the broad release of Medicare data. Acquisition of Medicare data by states currently requires following a cumbersome and relatively expensive process that can be a barrier for states seeking Medicare data for policy and research purposes. Therefore, NAHDO and the states we represent propose a reasonable alternative approach to Medicare data release.
