08 Aug Health Data News Roundup: NCQA HEDIS Quality Measures to Improve Race, Gender Health Equity; Cigna Transportation Benefit; and New McKinsey Report

Welcome to the Health Data Weekly News Roundup from IMAT Solutions. As the power of data continues to grow in the healthcare arena, today’s care organizations need to be on the forefront of all news and trends to help ensure that their data analytics efforts deliver accountable and informed care. Each week, we will provide you with the actionable news you need to meet these goals.

NCQA Adds New HEDIS Quality Measures to Improve Race, Gender Health Equity
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) announced changes to its quality measures for the 2023 Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), including race and ethnicity data and gender-relevant care measures.

Key Opportunities, Action Steps for Race, Ethnicity Data Collection
Race and ethnicity data collection is complex, but there are steps that health insurers—and the healthcare industry at large—can take to improve the process, according to a report from Urban Institute funded by Elevance Health (formerly Anthem).

Cigna Extends Medicare Advantage Transportation Benefit Due to Heat
Cigna is expanding its Medicare Advantage transportation benefit to bring Medicare Advantage members to locations where they can avoid the extreme heat.

Aetna Medicaid Plan Recognized by NCQA for Health Equity Efforts
Aetna’s Medicaid plan in California, Aetna Better Health of California, has received the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Multicultural Health Care Distinction, highlighting the payer’s efforts to provide culturally sensitive services, reduce health disparities, and advance health equity.

HL7 Launches GenomeX Community to Enhance Genomic Data Interoperability
Health Level Seven International (HL7) and the HL7 FHIR Accelerator CodeX have announced GenomeX, a new foundational domain dedicated to advancing genomic data interoperability.

HHS: U.S. Uninsured Rate Reaches Record-Low 8% in Q1 Amid ACA, Medicaid Gains
The national uninsured rate reached a record low of 8% early this year amid record enrollment in Affordable Care Act exchanges and Medicaid, according to new federal data.

Insights Into the 2022 Individual Health Insurance Market
In this report, McKinsey’s Center for US Health System Reform shares its analysis of the individual health insurance market and outlines trends in products, plans, and prices from 2014 to 2022.