Washington State All Payer Claims Database (WA-APCD)
The Washington State All Payer Claims Database (WA-APCD) is a tool used to collect health care claims data for reporting, analytics, and to help the public make their health care decisions. It supports health care and payment reform while addressing the need for cost, quality, and utilization transparency. Using the WA-APCD, Washington State can help to advance medicine and public health.
On this page
The WA-APCD began in 2014 when the Washington State Legislature passed landmark legislation that directed the Office of Financial Management (OFM) to establish and create the database.
The Washington State Health Care Authority (HCA) and Office of Financial Management (OFM) transitioned management of the WA-APCD from OFM to HCA. HCA has been in lead organization negotiations with the Washington Health Alliance. We have not reached agreement. As such, program contracts have been assigned to HCA in the interim as we continue negotiations.
Washington HealthCareCompare, winner of the 2018 National Association of Health Data Organizations "Innovation in Data Dissemination Award," is an online tool (based on WA-APCD data) to improve health care cost and quality transparency. Search over 100 procedures and treatments for cost information and examine quality ratings of providers and hospitals. The site also includes results for the Statewide Common Measure Set.
Status updates
| Date | Activity | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| March 24, 2022 | Announcement of public comment | Through April 8, 2022 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on three recent data requests. |
| December 17, 2021 | Announcement of public comment | Through January 1, 2022 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on a recent data request. |
| September 7, 2021 | Announcement of public comment | Through September 22, 2021 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on a recent data request. |
| August 20, 2021 | Announcement of public comment | Through September 4, 2021 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on a recent data request. |
| July 7, 2021 | Announcement of public comment |
Through July 22, 2021 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on a recent data request. |
| April 14, 2021 | Public comment now closed | Public comment closed from March 29 announcement (see below) |
| March 29, 2021 | Announcement of public comment | Through Tuesday, April 13, 2021 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on a recent data request. |
| March 29, 2021 | State agency coordinating committee meeting | Kicked off work (RCW 43.371.090) to improve health outcomes through better cost and quality information (make recommendations to the Washington State Performance Measurement Coordinating Committee). |
| February 17, 2021 | CR-101 published in state register #21-04 | HCA has begun rulemaking action on WAC 182-70-030 additional definitions authorized by chapter 43.371 RCW to define a minimum reporting threshold below which a data supplier is not required to submit data. |
| February 6, 2021 | Public comment now closed | Public comment closed - no comment or feedback received (January 21, 2021). |
| January 21, 2021 | Announcement of public comment |
Through Friday, February 5, 2021 at 5 p.m. (Pacific), HCA is seeking public comment on the following list of reports and deliverables to be produced during calendar year 2021. |
| December 5, 2019 | Contract negotiations continue | HCA has been in lead organization negotiations with Washington Health Alliance. We have not reached agreement. As such, we are moving forward with the assignment of contracts to HCA in the interim as we continue negotiations. |
| October 4, 2019 | Apparent Successful Bidder (ASB) announced | HCA has announced Washington Health Alliance as the apparently successful bidder to serve as lead organization of the WA-APCD. |
| August 13, 2019 | Request for Proposal (RFP) posted |
HCA has posted an RFP soliciting proposals from eligible firms for a lead organization (LO) to coordinate, administer, manage, and operate the WA-APCD. The LO will be the prime contractor and will subcontract with one or more data vendor(s) and a web services vendor. The RFP is posted in Washington's Electronic Business Solution (WEBS) - Washington's online solicitation notification system. |
WA-APCD newsletter
Lead organization and data vendor
The Center for Health Systems Effectiveness (CHSE) at Oregon Health & Science University (OHSU) was the WA-APCD Lead Organization responsible for the implementation and operation of the WA-APCD. CHSE is a leader in researching healthcare delivery serviced aimed at improving value and “bending the cost curve” of spending growth. Ted von Glahn served as the program director for OHSU.
Onpoint Health Data was the contracted data vendor for the WA-APCD. Onpoint has over 40 years’ experience in health data, developed Maine’s APCD in 2003, and launched over half of the nation’s statewide APCD solutions.
Access WA-APCD data
- WA-APCD Data Access Chart
- Fee Schedule for Data Products
- Steps to request WA-APCD data
- Washington HealthCareCompare website
- Current WA-APCD Data Requests
Rulemaking for the WA-APCD
- Introduction to the APCD rules
- Rulemaking timeline - revised February 2018
WA-APCD resources
- Chapter 43.371 RCW
- Washington State All Payer Claims Database overview
- Washington State All-Payer Claims Database and Lead Organization biennial report - March 2, 2022
- Data supplier registration link for the WA-APCD
- Data Access Under Chapter 43.371 RCW: Statewide Health Care Claim Data
- OFM report to Legislature - December 1, 2016
- OFM report to Legislature - December 1, 2017
- OHSU WA-APCD website
- List of reports for 2019
Healthcare price transparency resources
CMS Hospital Compare - find and compare the quality of care at over 4,000 Medicare-certified hospitals.