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POLICY RECOMMENDATIONS Human Health
Policy Recommendation 1:
States can consider investing in broadband infrastructure and statewide health care data sharing systems to enable transparency, providing equitable distribution of health care services, and improving: (1) access to critical care, (2) robust clinical data for policymakers and providers, and (3) quality of the continuum of care.
The Human Health Subcommittee approved this recommendation citing a desire to increase access to and the equitable distribution of medical care and services. The subcommittee finds telehealth services and broader data sharing frameworks can better address the needs of individuals working in and receiving health care, especially when they are universal, affordable and public facing.
Statewide health care data sharing has the potential of providing timely and comprehensive information to policymakers as they seek to develop policies which positively impact access to quality health care. Understanding the unique attributes of the communities across their states, including unique challenges in health care, would help policymakers develop targeted approaches to improve critical care. Decisions based on anecdotal evidence often lead to policy decisions which fail to address real needs.”
— Sen. Colleen Burton, Florida
Technology enablers such as telehealth can be a tool to address health equity only if access to the internet is universal and affordable. It also is important that states take into consideration the resources necessary to acclimatize populations to new uses of technology. Data shared among state health agencies that include variables such as race/ethnicity, age, geographic location and other demographic characteristics allow policymakers to make informed decisions to better ensure the equitable distribution of health care resources.1
The equity benefits of robust data collection and sharing systems was also a topic of discussion at the June 2021 meeting,2 most prominently in the presentation given by Hemi Tewarson of The National Academy for State Health Policy.3 Tewarson described how states could address equity concerns in vaccination programs through improved data collection and use. Additionally, she described the risk of increasing incidents of Adverse Childhood Experiences — disproportionately affecting racial and ethnic groups — due to the health and economic impacts of the pandemic-related state policy changes.
States can better address challenges and improve health outcomes through the use of American Rescue Plan funding, including opportunities for strengthening behavioral health programs, expanding access to broadband, addressing trauma and adverse childhood experiences, and enhancing food security and nutrition. However, without proper data sharing, challenges will remain in terms of assessing who is receiving treatment and services and who is not.
State Examples
In Connecticut, Connecticut Senate Bill 6 established a framework when collecting data to keep private information secure. The framework includes online monitoring, which is beneficial for the telehealth sector when focusing on secure data protection of patients.
In Nebraska, Legislative Bill 411 requires that health agencies participate in the state’s health information exchange. This exchange is designed to provide a data infrastructure of electronic health records, assist in assessments of affordability and availability of care in the state, and enable healthcare providers to access pertinent information in accordance with privacy and security provisions. This includes the mandated provision and sharing of information by health care facilities and health insurance plans.
Additional Resources
The Council of State Governments State Leader Policy Brief: Human Health — https://web.csg.org/csghealthystates/wp-content/ uploads/sites/23/2022/05/Healthy-States-National-Task-Force-PolicyBrief-Strategies-for-Improving-Health-Equity.pdf
Data Exchange to Improve Public Health — https://www.ncsl.org/ research/health/using-data-exchange-to-improve-public-health-magazine2022.aspx
How States Are Expanding Broadband Access — https://www. pewtrusts.org/en/research-and-analysis/reports/2020/02/how-statesare-expanding-broadband-access
Endnotes
1 Cooper, R. (2021, Feb. 8). States Identify and Address COVID-19 Vaccine Disparities through Targeted Rollout and Outreach. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from National Academy for State Health Policy: https://www.nashp.org/states-identify-and-addresscovid-19-vaccine-disparities-through-targeted-rollout-and-outreach/
2 The Council of State Governments. (2021, July 23). 2021-22 CSG Healthy States National Task Force Human Health Subcommittee Meeting Summary No. 1 - June 21, 2021. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from CSG Healthy States: https://web.csg.org/ csghealthystates/wp-content/uploads/sites/23/2021/07/Human-Health-Subcommittee-Meeting-1-Summary.pdf
3 The Council of State Governments. (2021, June 30). State Efforts to Address Health Equity and Disparities. YouTube. Retrieved November 1, 2022, from https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=RlTia8h8xFo
