Public comment period for WA-APCD data request
Through July 22, 2021 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific), the Health Care Authority (HCA) is seeking public comment for a recent data request.
Under WAC 182-70-230, the lead organization must establish a transparent process for the review of data requests, which includes a process for public review for specific requests. …The process must also include the ability for the public to comment on requests that include the release of protected health information or proprietary financial information or both. …The time frame for public comment should not be less than fourteen calendar days. The lead organization must post the final decision for the request within seven days after the decision is made.
Public comment
Public comment is open to anyone who would like to share feedback. We encourage health care and social service providers, managed care organizations, hospitals and health systems, medical associations, Tribes, Accountable Communities of Health, and the public to provide input.
The data request
Use case submitted: 4/2021
Data Requestor: PhD Candidate at the University of Washington, Department of Medicine
Data type: Protected Health Information
E-mail public comments to: apcd@hca.wa.gov
Public comment schedule: July 7, 2021 - July 22, 2021
Title: Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Hospitalization Rates for Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease and Alcohol-Associated Cirrhosis in Washington State.
Summary:
The purpose of this study is to elucidate the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on the health outcomes of individuals living with alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) or alcohol-associated cirrhosis (AC) in Washington State. To this end, our primary aim is to describe and compare rates of hospitalization due to complications of ALD or AC in Washington State between 2019 and 2020. The burden of ALD is high and rising; ALD is now the leading cause of chronic liver disease (CLD) and most common indication for liver transplantation in the United States. ALD is an “ambulatory care-sensitive” condition. Optimal outpatient management can slow disease progression; decrease utilization of emergency services; and decrease rates of hospitalization and mortality. However, the COVID-19 pandemic has limited in-person ambulatory services, with varying degrees of restrictions across the United States. Telemedicine became a primary conduit of outpatient care; however, concerns regarding equitable access and long-term health outcomes remain. To our knowledge, there are currently no studies that characterize the burden of hospitalizations for ALD/AC in Washington State during the COVID-19 pandemic. The results of this study will contribute to literature on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health outcomes for patients with ALD/AC. Study findings will aid efforts to continue to characterize and predict the short- and long-term outcomes of the pandemic on at-risk populations, particularly in Washington State. Our findings will support the development of recommendations to target resources towards preventative services to address the unique needs of patients living with ALD/AC
This request is for receipt of the following PHI data elements: Member Date of Birth, Member Zip Code, Member City, Admission Date and Discharge Date. Analysis will involve basic descriptive statistics, quantification of distinct hospitalizations using specific inclusion ICD-10 codes, and analysis of COVID-19 rates by zip code during the peak of the pandemic to assess whether zip codes with higher rates of COVID-19 are also associated with higher hospitalization rates for ALD/AC.
Study protocol has been reviewed and approved by the University of Washington Internal Review Board and is currently under final evaluation by the WA-APCD program. Results from this use case will be displayed in the form of a manuscript, with plans to submit to a scientific peer-reviewed journal.
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