Services & Data Requests - How To Submit A Data Request

1. Under the Data Descriptions Web site page, review the data available, data descriptions, time periods, and file layouts. The fees for the data are listed under the Data Price Structure Web site page.
   
   
2. Determine the nature of your request.
   • Standard or Custom Data Request
   • Data Set (record-level) or Report (aggregated groupings)
   • Inpatient and/or Ambulatory/Outpatient
   • Time Period
3. Determine client classification. PHC4 has four client classifications for the purpose of purchasing data:
   • Commercial - any corporation, coalition, association, other organization or individual that requests data to resell or redistribute any of PHC4 data or the resultant analysis from the data for a profit. This can include using the data in software products or using the data in analysis for profitable consultation with clients. Examples of commercial clients include software vendors and healthcare and business consultants.
   • Non-Commercial - any corporation, coalition, association, other organization or individual that requests data to use internally for their own purposes and analysis. This can include, but is not limited to hospitals and other health care providers, purchasers, insurers, and consumers.
   • Researcher - any University-based researcher who requests PHC4 data for the benefit of the healthcare system.
   • Government - any Pennsylvania State Agency that requests data to use for government-related purposes.
4. Download, print, and complete PHC4's Data Requests Application, which can be obtained below. There are two separate applications: 1) Commercial Clients and 2) Non-Commercial, Research, and Government Clients.

   Complete the application that is applicable to your data request and return it to:

   • Commercial Clients Application
   • Non-Commercial, Government, Research Application

   Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council
   Special Request Unit
   225 Market Street, Suite 400
   Harrisburg, PA 17101

   or fax: 717-232-3821

   Please have the application typed. If any portion of the application is not legible or incomplete, it will be returned to you for completion.

   All Pennsylvania State Government Requests require the completion of the State Agency Policy Statement signed by the Deputy Secretary and accompanied with a letter from the Secretary or Deputy Secretary.

5. PHC4 charges a $75 non-refundable application fee for all custom requests, which must be submitted with the application. Checks are made out to Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council. The $75 will be applied to the total cost of the request. Failure to include the $75 check with your application will delay the data request process.
   
   
6. PHC4 staff will review the request to determine if the data set /or report can be prepared according to your specifications. If there are any problems, PHC4 will contact you and attempt to satisfy your request based on the availability of the data. Your request must then be approved by the Executive Director, and in some cases, the Council.
   
   
7. A PHC4 analyst will produce the data request once it has been approved.
   
   
8. A cost quote will be provided to the client for signature.
   
   
9. Upon receiving a signed cost quote from the client an invoice will be issued to the client.
   
   
10. Completed requests will be shipped to clients after PHC4 receives payment.
    
    

For more information contact the Special Request Unit at .