Challenge Sponsors

CHIA, established in 2012, is an independent state agency charged with monitoring the performance of the Massachusetts health care system. CHIA’s mission is to be the agency of record for Massachusetts health care information, to responsibly steward sensitive and confidential data, and to objectively report reliable and meaningful information about the health care quality, affordability, utilization, access, and outcomes. Our vision is a transparent health care system where reliable information provides common ground for improvement and empowers people and organizations to make informed decisions.

The Donaghue Foundation’s purpose is funding research that would promote knowledge of practical benefit to improve health. While there are many types of research, and some research is intended to create knowledge for which the ultimate benefit is distant or still unknown, the foundation believes the path to creating benefit starts with the research design itself and doesn’t wait until after the research is completed. This means encouraging partnerships between researchers, entrepreneurs, and health care providers; using experts in using new knowledge along with experts in creating new knowledge to evaluate funding proposals; and being open to innovations from other fields.
After two decades of working with researchers, their institutions, and other organizations focused on health, the foundation has learned that when the research question and the design of its methods are framed with the ultimate user innovation in mind, it’s more likely to be relevant and ready for that use.

MeHI is the Commonwealth’s entity for health care innovation, technology, and competitiveness, and partners with industry, government, and healthcare organizations to support the Massachusetts Digital Health Initiative on behalf of Governor Charlie Baker. MeHI also helps the Commonwealth’s providers harness the benefits of electronic health records and the Mass HIway, the statewide health information exchange. As part of this effort, MeHI works with stakeholders to ensure that patients have access to their data and become active and engaged participants in managing their health. Launched in 2016 by Governor Baker and the Commonwealth’s business and healthcare leaders, one of the Digital Health Initiative’s focus areas is to “partner with state agencies to better capture the ‘big data’ opportunity in healthcare,” which the new data challenge addresses.

Since the Harvard Medical School was established in 1782, faculty members have improved human health by innovating in their roles as physicians, mentors and scholars. They’ve piloted educational models, developed new curricula to address emerging needs in health care, and produced thousands of leaders and compassionate caregivers who are shaping the fields of science and medicine throughout the world with their expertise and passion. With its vast reservoir of talent, extensive network of affiliates and commitment to problem solving, Harvard Medical School is uniquely positioned to steer education and research in directions that will benefit local, national and global communities.

Established in 2005, FHC is a national consulting firm that helps clients to put health data to work to solve complex problems. HC is the leader in All Payer Claims Databases (APCDs). In over 15 states and across the political spectrum, we have helped plan, manage, and implement multi-payer claims databases. APCDs are one path towards the Triple Aim. FHC supports others: quality and cost measurement, performance improvement, price transparency, policy analysis, payment reform, value-based insurance design, and consumer engagement.