From wearables to electronic medical records, data on health and health care has myriad sources and uses. AcademyHealth programs and the community of health services researchers are looking at evidence on how to evaluate and use data from a wide variety of sources.
Over the last decade, Health Data for Action has shaped the research landscape by providing crucial data access, fostering innovation, and empowering researchers to influence health policy, despite a shifting data environment.
Medicaid work requirements set by HR 1 take effect on January 1, 2027, with exceptions for beneficiaries considered medically frail. A recent JAMA Health Forum paper authored by Medicaid Medical Directors outlines crucial clinical considerations for states implementing these exemptions.
Insulin is lifesaving, but for years rising out‑of‑pocket costs forced many people with diabetes to ration doses or skip treatment altogether. This Evidence Effect story demonstrates how cost alone affected patients’ ability to stay healthy.
Access to health care data has increased markedly, driven by federal requirements for hospital price transparency and publicly reported quality metrics. However, transparency by itself, while essential, is insufficient to empower patients.
The quality of scientific evidence is closely tied to the quality of our connections. AcademyHealth President and CEO Aaron Carroll highlights the importance of strengthening data partnerships, especially as health care and health policy challenges become more urgent.
Representative, accessible, and transparent data is key to improving health outcomes. As our Health Data for Action program enters its concluding year, we are exploring lessons learned and highlight some of the opportunities and challenges that lie ahead in a three-part blog series.
The TAF Analysis Reporting Checklist is designed to guide reporting of research using the TAF Medicaid claims data. It serves to promote transparency and reproducibility in TAF-based studies.
In an article in JAMA Health Forum, Medicaid Data Learning Network (MDLN) authors discuss the impetus for creating the T-MSIS Analytic Files (TAF) Analysis Reporting Checklist and the methodology used to do so.
In September 2025, AcademyHealth and its partners secured a major legal victory restoring federal health data removed earlier this year. This fact sheet summarizes the case background, settlement terms, and the implications for researchers, clinicians, and communities.
In the fifth video of a five-part interview series, AcademyHealth and others involved in our Health Data for Action program reflect on this journey to democratize data, and how the funded researchers were able to find ways to create fairer, more effective health solutions that work for everyone.