(a) The state agency shall compile, correlate, analyze and develop data which it collects pursuant to this chapter. The state agency shall prepare and distribute or make available reports to health-care purchasers, health-care insurers, health-care providers and the general public. The data shall be collected in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Data collected shall be limited to that contained in the Delaware uniform claims and billing data set (UB-82 or successor form).

Terms Used In Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 2003

  • Delaware uniform claims and billing data set: shall mean that data approved for use by the State Uniform Billing Committee. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 2002
  • Hospital: shall mean any nonfederal facility licensed as such pursuant to Chapter l0 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 2002
  • Nursing home: shall mean any and all rest residential, assisted living facility, skilled care or intermediate nursing facility licensed pursuant to Chapter 11 of this title. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 2002
  • Secretary: means the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services or such persons as may be designated by the Secretary. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 101
  • State: means the State of Delaware; and when applied to different parts of the United States, it includes the District of Columbia and the several territories and possessions of the United States. See Delaware Code Title 1 Sec. 302
  • State agency: shall mean the Division of Public Health within the Department of Health and Social Services. See Delaware Code Title 16 Sec. 2002

(b) The state agency shall periodically compile and disseminate reports on the data collected such as, but not limited to: charge levels, age-specific utilization patterns, morbidity patterns, patient origin and trends in health-care charges. Prior to release or dissemination of any compilations, the state agency shall provide a specified time period for hospitals and nursing homes to review the information they have submitted and to submit corrections. The state agency shall incorporate any valid corrections prior to release. Hospitals and nursing homes shall have the right to provide independent data interpretation which shall be disseminated along with the report.

(c) The state agency shall adopt such policies and procedures as necessary to carry out this chapter.

(d) The state agency shall establish the Hospital Discharge Technical Advisory Committee to study issues such as the collection, compilation, dissemination and confidentiality of data with regard to hospital discharge data reporting. The Committee shall be comprised of 9 members. These members shall include hospital and nursing home representatives from the Delaware Healthcare Association and the Delaware Health Care Facilities Association. The members shall be appointed by the Secretary of the Department of Health and Social Services. Members shall serve a 3-year term and are eligible for reappointment. The state agency may establish other committees as deemed appropriate.

(e) The state agency shall issue annual reports to the General Assembly outlining actions and accomplishments as well as recommendations for changes needed to further the purpose of this chapter.

(f) The state agency may study and issue reports on special medical needs, demographic characteristics, access to health care services and need for financing of health-care services for the entire population or various population subgroups.

(g) The state agency may also study and issue reports on health status issues such as:

(1) The incidence of medical and surgical procedures;

(2) Mortality rates for specified diagnoses and treatments;

(3) Rates of infection for specified diagnoses and treatments;

(4) Morbidity rates for specified diagnoses and treatments;

(5) Readmission rates for specified diagnoses and treatments; and

(6) Rate of incidence for selected diagnoses and procedures.

67 Del. Laws, c. 143, § ?1; 69 Del. Laws, c. 347, § ?1; 77 Del. Laws, c. 57, § ?1;