HOW ADEQUATE ARE STATE DATA TO SUPPORT HEALTH REFORM OR MONITOR HEALTH SYSTEM CHANGE

Citation
M. Gold et al., HOW ADEQUATE ARE STATE DATA TO SUPPORT HEALTH REFORM OR MONITOR HEALTH SYSTEM CHANGE, Inquiry, 32(4), 1995, pp. 468-475
Citations number
5
Categorie Soggetti
Heath Policy & Services
Journal title
ISSN journal
00469580
Volume
32
Issue
4
Year of publication
1995
Pages
468 - 475
Database
ISI
SICI code
0046-9580(1995)32:4<468:HAASDT>2.0.ZU;2-J
Abstract
This article reports on results of a 1994 telephone survey sponsored b y the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation to obtain better information on s tare policymakers' views of the quality of state-based health data and selected information on the actual data available. The findings sugge st that state policymakers cannot identify easily who and how many are without health insurance coverage, nor do they know exactly how much money is spent in the state on health care and who spends it. They als o cannot ascertain quality or consumers' satisfaction with health plan s, Funding, lack of comparability across data sets, and the reluctance of providers and insurers to submit required data are perceived as ba rriers to improving data, Adopting realistic strategies to overcome th ese barriers may be crucial if states are to assume greater leadership in health policy and in monitoring health system performance.