Data sharing and dissemination strategies for fostering competition in health care

To introduce the concept of common models for data sharing and dissemination, highlight the current operational, technical, and political issues surrounding existing data sharing and dissemination initiatives in a health care market, and suggest an ideal model for future data initiatives.

A literature review and case studies of existing data sharing and dissemination initiatives that promote the collection and use of comparative information on provider cost and quality.

Three broad types of common models for data sharing and dissemination have evolved over the past decade or so: (1) provider-initiated initiatives developed through collaboration among providers of health care; (2) purchaser-initiated activities driven by a coalition of purchasers; and (3) indirect collaboration-data-sharing initiatives between providers and purchasers with a significant facilitating or regulating role by a third group of stakeholders. The success of a data-sharing and dissemination strategy is determined by how the complex operational, technical, and political issues are addressed. General principles by which a health data initiative might abide include the following: standardized databases as the physical foundation, indicators that reflect the changing market; linkages between and across data sets for comprehensive and complete data; economic value; policy relevance; use of evolving technologies to collect, integrate, and disseminate data; and stakeholder support.

Regulatory solutions alone will not overcome the complex political and technical challenges to data sharing and dissemination. The "ideal" model or process nurturing a market for health care information will incorporate compromise and negotiation to address the issues of data ownership and proprietary concerns, therefore securing the necessary political and financial support of the private sector.