DataMatters May 2023 Edition Email
DATE: May 31, 2023
CHIA has been busy these past few months, as the weather slowly turns to summer!
CHIA released a new research brief on the intersection between citizenship/immigration status of Massachusetts residents and health insurance coverage rates in the state. This brief is the latest installment in CHIA’s reporting series focused on health equity.
Earlier this month, CHIA reported on hospital financial performance and utilization through the annual Hospital Profiles publication, which provides information on acute and non-acute hospitals over a five-year period through HFY 2021; quarterly updates to the Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data (HIDD) dashboard and the launch of a new Emergency Department (ED) data dashboard.
CHIA’s work to produce the Hospital Profiles is featured in the “Data User Profile” section of this newsletter to highlight how CHIA uses multiple data sources to create a comprehensive view of hospital performance.
As always, the “Publications and Data Releases” and “Upcoming Events” sections of DataMatters will keep you updated on reports CHIA has released recently and events of interest to the local health data community.
We also want to know your thoughts about this newsletter—things you like, things you would like to see included, suggestions for future user profiles. Please email us at newsletter@chiamass.gov.
News You Can Use
Today we wanted to highlight one of CHIA’s more recent publication series. Since 2020, CHIA has produced annual reports providing analyses and trends on health care utilization in the Commonwealth sourced from each of the Case Mix databases: hospital inpatient discharge data (HIDD), emergency department data (EDD), and outpatient observation data (OOD). The most recent annual report was published in December 2022 and was sourced from the HIDD dataset.
Last week, CHIA published its first-ever interactive dashboard on emergency department (ED) visits. This dashboard uses interim data to offer timely insights into ED utilization in the Commonwealth. It presents visit-level information at a statewide level and for select measures at the hospital level from Federal Fiscal Year (FFY) 2019 through the first quarter of FFY 2023 (October 2018 – December 2022).
CHIA recently also updated its hospital inpatient utilization analyses with quarterly data through December 2022. You can see the latest quarterly HIDD updates here. Going forward, CHIA will update both these interactive dashboards on a quarterly basis as the data becomes available.
We also want to remind our readers that the hospital fiscal year (HFY) 2022 hospital inpatient discharge database (HIDD) data is now available for public application. The data includes inpatient discharges from Massachusetts acute care hospitals for the period of October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022
Data User Profile
In each DataMatters publication, CHIA features an interview with a CHIA data user. This time we decided to highlight an internal user of our data, CHIA’s Provider Finance team, to provide an in-depth look at how they use multiple datasets that CHIA collects.
Earlier this month CHIA published its most recent Hospital Profiles publication, a comprehensive analysis of Massachusetts hospital performance for hospital fiscal year 2021 (HFY 2021). This is a continually evolving publication, with newly designed profiles with consolidated information, in addition to an interactive dashboard which allows users to filter results by individual hospital, hospital type, among other measures.
We are grateful to CHIA staff for taking the time to answer some of our questions!
Please briefly describe the reports and analyses your team produces.
The Provider Finance team primarily produces or contributes to reports on hospital financial performance. This includes quarterly and annual reports, a five-year trend analysis, and annual Hospital Profiles. These reports also include the hospital health systems and affiliated physician organizations to help develop a more complete understanding of the financial performance of a hospital in the context of the larger health system it operates within.
What CHIA data do you use for Hospital Profiles? How is it collected?
Hospital Profiles compiles financial and utilization data from hospital cost reports, standardized financial statements, relative price, and inpatient discharge data. The data is either provider or payer submitted. Our team collects and analyzes the hospital cost reports and standardized financial statements. We receive relative price (RP) results and annual analysis of the data from other CHIA teams, in addition to receiving assistance on the appropriate metrics needed from the hospital inpatient discharge data (HIDD).
Prior to creating the individual Hospital Profiles, we prepare a data verification of the cost reports for the hospitals to review and either affirm or correct their submitted data. This includes sharing 5-year trends for a variety of financial and utilization metrics such as gross patient service revenues, net patient service revenues, beds, inpatient discharges, etc. Additionally, we review the standardized financial statements submitted against the audited financial statements to confirm all data is aligned and accurate.
For data collected outside of our team, such as RP or HIDD, we work with the appropriate teams within CHIA if any questions arise when comparing the current year to previous Hospital Profiles publications.
What do you look for when analyzing this data? What are some of the key metrics you use?
In reviewing the data, we look for any significant year-over-year changes for several metrics including discharges, revenues, hospital margins, etc. Additionally, we compare the hospital data to either the statewide or peer cohort medians whenever possible.
As the pandemic impacted many financial and utilization trends, we have utilized 5-year trends for most metrics to analyze how the data and trends were affected.
How do you envision stakeholders using Hospital Profiles?
The goal of Hospital Profiles is to provide information for each of the hospitals in an easy-to-read one-page format. This allows interested parties and stakeholders to have a factsheet immediately available to them about the hospital of their interest.
The interactive dashboard allows users to view the data from different cuts, such as by hospital type, hospital system, as well as individual hospital. This allows for more comparisons to other hospitals in the state.
Last, the databook includes all of the underlying data utilized and allows users access to all of the data at once if they want to perform their own analysis.
Publications and Data Releases (April 2023 - May 2023)
FY 2022 Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data (HIDD) Case Mix
April 2023
In April CHIA released the most recent annual Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data (HIDD) Case Mix dataset for public application. The FY 2022 HIDD contains discharge-level inpatient diagnostic data which describe the socio-demographic characteristics of the patient, the reason for the admission, the treatment and services provided to the patient, the charges, and the duration of the patient’s stay.
The data includes inpatient discharges from Massachusetts acute care hospitals for the period of October 1, 2021 – September 30, 2022.
Quarterly Hospital Financial Performance through December 31, 2022
April 2023
Earlier in April, CHIA released the most recent quarterly acute hospital and health system financial performance report with data through December 31, 2022. Each quarter CHIA publishes this report on the profitability, liquidity, and solvency of hospital health systems and their affiliated acute hospitals, as well as the profitability of affiliated physician organizations.
New! Research Brief on Insurance Coverage Rates for Foreign-Born Residents
April 2023
CHIA published a new research brief in April exploring the connection between citizenship/immigration status and health insurance coverage rates in Massachusetts. CHIA’s latest brief: Massachusetts Foreign-born Residents, Particularly Non-citizens, Are Less Likely to Have Continuous Health Insurance Coverage, uses data from three consecutive Massachusetts Health Insurance Surveys (2015, 2017, and 2019) to study gaps in health insurance coverage rates by immigration and citizenship status.
HFY 2021 Hospital Profiles
May 2023
Earlier this month, CHIA published its latest Massachusetts Hospital Profiles, which provide information on acute and non-acute hospitals over a five-year period through HFY 2021. These profiles enable comparisons against statewide performance and peer cohorts for each measure. A new dashboard is also available, allowing users to filter results by individual hospital, hospital type, and health system.
New! Massachusetts Acute Care Hospital Emergency Department Data (Case Mix), Quarterly Update
May 2023
CHIA published its first-ever interactive dashboard on emergency department (ED) visits. This quarterly update shows trends revealed by the emergency department Case Mix data from October 2018 – December 2022. Quarterly reports are based on interim data and are updated as more complete information becomes available.
Massachusetts Acute Care Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data (Case Mix), Quarterly Update
May 2023
Earlier this month, CHIA also released its latest quarterly dashboard update of its Hospital Inpatient Discharge Data (HIDD), showing trends from October 2018 – December 2022. Quarterly reports are based on interim data and are updated as more complete information becomes available.
Upcoming Events and Resources
Events and announcements of interest to our community, organized by CHIA, our data partners, and others
Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
Board Meeting
Wednesday, June 7, 2023, 12:00 PM
The HPC ’s 11-member Board meets approximately every six weeks throughout the year to review staff- (or guest)- presented overviews of the agency’s major workstreams, and other topics related to health care cost containment and reform. Major reports, statutory regulations, and publications are authorized by a majority vote at these meetings.
Health Trends Equity Summit
Tuesday, June 13, 2023, 8:30 PM
Register now for the Health Equity Trends Summit! The Health Equity Compact is hosting the first Health Equity Trends Summit to convene Massachusetts government and industry leaders for a public discussion on actions to accelerate and achieve breakthrough health equity reform across the Commonwealth.
This will be an in-person and virtual event. To view an agenda and confirmed list of speakers, click here.
Department of Public Health
Public Health Council Meeting
Wednesday, June 14, 2023, 9:00 AM
The Public Health Council of the Department of Public Health promulgates regulations, advises the Department on certain major policy decisions and actions and is responsible for voting on Determination of Need applications submitted by health facilities. It meets once per month at DPH’s Boston office.
CHIA Oversight Council
Tuesday, June 20, 2023, 2:00 PM
CHIA’s appointed Oversight Council meets quarterly to discuss agency priorities and agenda-setting. The next meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, June 20, at 2:00 p.m. and will stream live on CHIA’s YouTube channel.
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) Policy Forum Policy Forum:
Streamlining Prior Authorization: Advancing automation in Massachusetts
Wednesday, June 21, 2023, 12:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m. at UMass Club, Amherst Room, Boston, MA
MAHP will be holding a Policy Forum on Streamlining Prior Authorization: Advancing Automation in Massachusetts, which will feature speakers from Network for Excellence in Health Innovation (NEHI), New England Healthcare Exchange Network (NEHEN), and Massachusetts Health Data Consortium (MHDC), who will present on how automation will streamline prior authorization, the technology and processes needed to implement automation, and next steps for implementation in Massachusetts.
Speakers include Wendy Warring, President & CEO, NEHI; Dave Delano, Executive Director, NEHEN & Senior Director, MHDC; Denny Brennan, Executive Director, MHDC; and Lauren Bedel, Senior Health Policy & Program Associate, NEHI. Registration, networking, and a buffet lunch will begin at 12:30 pm and the speaking program will start promptly at 1:00 pm. Please RSVP to Ann Chamberlin LaBelle at chamberlin@mahp.com to register for this event.
CHIA Data User Workgroups
Tuesday, June 27, 2023, 3:00 PM
These ongoing meetings are designed for data users and other interested parties to connect with CHIA to discuss analytical techniques and best practices in research using CHIA's MA APCD and Case Mix databases.
The next virtual workgroup meeting will be on Tuesday, June 27, 2023, at 3:00 PM. For more information including past presentations and user support materials, visit the information page. To learn more about CHIA data, please visit https://www.chiamass.gov/chia-data/.
The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) DE&I Series for 2023
The Massachusetts Health & Hospital Association (MHA) is presenting four (4) events through its 2023 Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) series on topics ranging from Health Equity Data and the 1115 Waiver to the Human Resources/Chief Diversity Officers Summit to LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness to Clinical Outcomes. You may register for each event separately or MHA is offering a special bundle price for the series. Click the links below for more information. If you are interested in purchasing the bundle for the DE&I Series, please contact Amy Smalarz, MHA’s Director of Healthcare Education and Professional Development, at asmalarz@mhalink.org.
Thursday, June 8: LGBTQ+ Health and Wellness/Wellbeing (Virtual Education Program, 9 – 11:30 a.m.)
Thursday, June 15: DE&I: Clinical Outcomes (In-person Event, 8:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) 36th Annual Conference
August 14 – August 16, 2023
The National Academy for State Health Policy (NASHP) is hosting their annual conference in Boston this year. Join state leaders from around the country to discuss issues facing state health policymakers. More details to follow. Registration opens in early May.
Massachusetts Association of Health Plans (MAHP) 2023 Annual Conference:
Health Care Affordability, Quality and Equity in a Post Pandemic World
SAVE THE DATE! Thursday, November 17, 2023, 7:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
MA MAHP will be holding this year's conference at the Seaport Hotel on November 17th. Individual registrations will open in June. Please reach out to Ann Chamberlin at chamberlin@mahp.com to get information on available sponsorship opportunities.
Join Our Team
A selection of open positions at CHIA. Please feel free to share broadly with your network. Follow CHIA on LinkedIn for more regular updates.
Manager, Health Informatics and Reporting
Health Informatics and Reporting Team
Health Policy and Data Analyst
Health Informatics and Reporting Team
CENTER FOR HEALTH INFORMATION AND ANALYSIS
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