Clear Choices Campaign to HHS: Consumers Need More and Better Public Health Data

WASHINGTON, Feb. 23, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, industry-consumer coalition Clear Choices, with support from member organizations such as AARP and the National Consumers League, called on the Department of Health and Human Services to put more accurate, intelligible health care data in the hands of health care consumers and stakeholders. The recommendation letter serves as a follow up to a meeting between HHS and the coalition last spring.

"Many of HHS's current data sharing policies aim to 'improve transparency' only in name," said Clear Choices President Joel White. "The health care industry suffers from a lack of normalized, trusted, sharable data, across programs and providers."

Several issues continue to frustrate HHS's ability to provide better data, better tools, and better markets for health care consumer decision-making. Consumers are often misled with confusing jargon and apples-to-oranges comparisons.

In response, Clear Choices is calling on HHS to:

Improve Quality Reporting Data
Make More and Better Data Available to Consumers and Entrepreneurs
Collaborate with Private Sector Data Transparency Efforts
Increase the Relevance of Data for Consumers
Strengthen Patient Data Access
Streamline Exchange Enrollment Websites

Clear Choices believes that federal data policy requires a national strategic framework for HHS transparency and public data sharing. Including the recommendations above in such a framework would guarantee greater buy in from stakeholders and lead the Administration's transparency efforts toward a consumer-friendly health care environment.

"Consumers need more easy-to-understand and better quality health care data to help them make optimal health decisions for themselves and their families," said Sally Greenberg, executive director of the National Consumers League. "We urge HHS to give careful consideration to Clear Choices' recommendations for improving health care transparency."

"If implemented, our recommendations would strengthen HHS data sharing policy in a way that resonates with the public," said White. "A feat that has eluded the Administration's efforts to date."

To access the full HHS Data Sharing Letter, please click here. For a summary of recommendations please click here.

For more information, please contact Sandra Ramos at (202) 471-4228 ext. 115 or Email.

About Clear Choices
Clear Choices is a multi-stakeholder advocacy association dedicated to making health markets more transparent, accountable, and consumer-friendly. We are committed to ensuring that patients have access to relevant, meaningful, and actionable information so they can make informed decisions about their health care and health coverage.

SOURCE Clear Choices Campaign

Related Links

http://www.clearchoicescampaign.org