Resources

Cross-sector data sharing is lauded as an integral part of complex care. Sharing data among multiple sectors—such as behavioral health, medicine, criminal justice, housing, and education—seems like a straightforward way to understand people’s complex health and social needs and provide whole-person care. In practice, however, sharing data is not always so simple. These sample data sharing agreements were used as part of Camden ARISE, which linked data from criminal justice, health care, and housing in Camden, New Jersey. The agreements can be adapted for use by other cross-sector groups seeking to share data.

This toolkit summarizes important information that elected officials, agency leaders, and city staff need to know about the federal laws and regulations related to individual privacy rights that govern data-sharing.  The purpose is to support local leaders in using integrated data to improve services while respecting the privacy of residents.

To explore how Medicaid could best advance models for this high-need group of patients, the Center for Health Care Strategies (CHCS), in partnership with the National Governors Association, hosted a Super-Utilizer Summit on February 11 and 12, 2013. The summit brought together leaders from super-utilizer programs across the country, states, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation (RWJF) Aligning Forces for Quality (AF4Q) alliances, health plans, and other key stakeholders to share strategies for changing how our health care system interacts with these high-need, high-cost patients. The meeting was made possible through the generous support of RWJF and the Atlantic Philanthropies. The appendices include materials related to existing complex care management programs that can be educational resources for states and policymakers considering ways to implement, spread, and sustain such programs.

Using and sharing data to provide the appropriate response to high utilizers’ needs is challenging work, but it results in meaningful outcomes for individuals, families, and the community. Effective use of data can also reduce the number of individuals held in jail pretrial simply because they cannot afford bail, reduce recidivism, and help develop better programs for individuals with mental health and substance use disorders. Creating a network for information sharing and engaging in effective planning and coordination is critical to building a consensus around which data can and will be shared. Key stakeholders must understand the legal framework for information sharing to design and implement effective criminal justice and health and human services collaborations. Staff members must be trained to respond to questions about the purpose and limits of data sharing.