Health Facilities Data Reporting Program
Frequently Asked Questions
Health Facilities Data Reporting
General FAQs:
When did the required reporting begin?
On November 13, 2014, Lieutenant Governor Treadwell filed permanent regulations from the Department of Health regarding health care facility discharge data reporting (7 AAC 27.660). The regulations took effect on December 13, 2014 and apply to discharges beginning January 2015.
What is the difference between this data set and an all-payer claims database (APCD)?
The Health Facility Data Reporting Program (HFDR) consists of inpatient and outpatient discharge records provided by facilities. The only financial data included are billed charges and anticipated payer type. An APCD collects claims and payment data from public payers and private insurers, which vary from hospital charges after negotiations and discounts. Alaska does not currently have an APCD.
What are the benefits to having a reporting program?
Health facilities discharge data show utilization of health services and provide evidence of the conditions for which people receive treatment. Data provide valuable information for decision makers at all levels to monitor emerging issues in health status, health service delivery, and need for expanded services and facilities.
Facilities also benefit from discharge reporting; data can be used for monitoring quantity and quality, market share, readmissions, and other quality improvement and planning activities. Facilities may receive a copy of their own datasets and are able to request customized analyses at their own expense.
How will the data be used?
The Department of Health uses data from the Health Facilities Data Reporting Program for public health planning, injury and disease surveillance, and health services research. Data contribute to quality assessment and performance improvement activities, community health status assessments, and informing policy deliberations. As a longitudinal data set, trends can be monitored over time; standardization enables comparison to national benchmarks.
Alaska is one of 47 states participating in a national hospital data set through the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). Known as the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP), this longitudinal hospital care dataset is used for health services research and policy analysis on the national level. Alaska began contributing data in 2011.
For more information contact:
- Research Unit
Health Analytics & Vital Records
Alaska Division of Public Health
PO Box 110675
Juneau, AK 99811
Phone: (907) 465-8604
Fax: (907) 465-4689
Email: healthanalytics@alaska.gov
