Prerequisites
Before submitting an application, all applicants must determine the type of data requested: identifiable data or de-identified data (HIPAA-compliant or statistically de-identified).
Identifiable Data
Non-government requests for research using identifiable data must include:
- Research methodology, objectives, and rationale
- Justification for requesting specific identifiable data elements
- Explanation of how the results will be published or contribute to generalizable knowledge
- Authorization to receive identifiable data, either through individual patient authorization or a waiver of authorization approved by an Institutional Review Board or Privacy Board
Note: Payers or providers requesting identifiable data for purposes of treatment, payment, or health care operations are not required to provide research methodology, justification for identifiable data, publication details, or authorization information.
De-Identified Data
De-identified data may be requested for a wide range of purposes, including lowering total medical expenses, coordinating care, benchmarking, quality analysis, research, administrative or planning purposes, informing consumer health care decisions, and improvement of health care or public health outcomes for Commonwealth residents.
Requests for de-identified data do not need to provide research methodology, justification, publication details, or authorization information.
Data Application Submission Instructions
Prepare To Submit Application
Review the data application questions and Data Use Agreement before submitting an application. CHIA staff can provide assistance by tailoring your request, discussing data privacy and security requirements, and calculating fees or supporting fee waiver requests.
Submit Online Application
Submit your application through CHIA’s secure, cloud-based online platform (HighQ by Thomson Reuters).
Review and Consultation
A CHIA Subject Matter Expert will review the application materials and, if needed, work with applicants to refine data requests. Review time depends on the complexity of the request and the sensitivity of the data requested.
Compliance Review and Approval
CHIA will confirm that the requested release is authorized under Massachusetts law.
Note: Applicants seeking Medicaid data must establish that the proposed use is “directly connected” to the administration of the Medicaid program.
Approved MA APCD ApplicationsApproved Case Mix Applications
Execute Data Use Agreement
After approval, a Data Use Agreement (or equivalent agreement for government agencies) must be executed prior to data release.
Note: Applicants seeking Medicare data must also sign the Medicare Addendum.
Data Release
Once the Data Use Agreement (or equivalent agreement for government agencies) is executed, CHIA processes the data extract, which is then transmitted to the recipient via secure delivery.
Recommended Links
Data User Workgroup
Meet with CHIA’s team of data experts to discuss analytical techniques, ask questions, and find out about the latest APCD and Case Mix releases and enhancements.
MA APCD
Learn about the Massachusetts All Payer Claims Database, including what data is collected, how to request access, and how to submit claims data to CHIA.
Case Mix
Access Massachusetts hospital case mix data, including inpatient discharge, emergency department, and outpatient observation datasets, documentation, and data specification manuals.