In a letter dated May 31, The Pew Charitable Trusts provided comments to the federal Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services regarding their proposed updates to hospital payment rules. The organization suggested steps that the agency could take to enhance public health reporting.
The Pew Charitable Trusts collaborated with partner organizations to develop consensus on measures that could be implemented to facilitate the sharing of public health data. One of their recommendations is for the agency to strengthen requirements related to sending immunization and laboratory data to public health agencies electronically and promptly. They also propose encouraging healthcare providers to engage in health information exchanges, which can simplify the sharing of data among providers.
Another suggestion by Pew is to expand the collection of comprehensive data on patients’ race and ethnicity. This data can assist public health agencies in identifying if different communities are experiencing disproportionate impacts from certain diseases. By implementing these recommendations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can contribute to improving public health outcomes and advancing healthcare quality for all individuals.
Overall, The Pew Charitable Trusts’ suggestions aim to enhance public health reporting and data sharing to better address the healthcare needs of communities across the nation. By implementing these recommendations, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can contribute to improving public health outcomes and advancing healthcare quality for all individuals.
