Association of State and Territorial Health Officials has partnered with Veritas Data Research and HealthVerity to create the nation’s first public health data consortium. The initiative brings together ASTHO, state and territorial health departments, and private sector partners to improve public health outcomes by enhancing access to and quality of critical health data. The consortium aims to tackle long-standing gaps in public health data infrastructure and provide a secure framework for data sharing across multiple stakeholders.
Joseph Kanter, MD, MPH, Chief Executive Officer of ASTHO, emphasized that combining the strengths of private industry with public health expertise presents a unique opportunity to close persistent data gaps. He explained that the structured collaboration will help build a more responsive and effective public health system capable of addressing current and future challenges. According to Kanter, the consortium is designed to support actionable public health insights while maintaining governance under public health authorities.
The consortium’s mission focuses on improving access to real-world and public health data for stakeholders such as state health agencies, providers, payers, and researchers. Much of this data has historically been difficult to obtain or fragmented, limiting its usefulness in decision-making and longitudinal analyses. By establishing a public-private partnership, consortium members aim to expand data accessibility, strengthen community health, and support more informed healthcare and public health strategies.
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Jen Layden, MD, PhD, ASTHO Senior Vice President of Population and Innovation, and a former CDC and state public health official, highlighted the importance of a sustainable model that combines public and private expertise. She said that for too long, barriers have prevented effective collaboration and slowed progress in public health data and technology. Layden noted that placing governance in the hands of public health ensures that the consortium operates with a clear mission while maintaining accountability and public trust.
Participating jurisdictional health departments will gain access to technical resources and real-world datasets, playing an active role in improving the accuracy, quality, and availability of critical data. The consortium will initially focus on mortality data, which is a foundational resource for a wide range of public health analyses and planning efforts.
Jason LaBonte, Chief Executive Officer of Veritas Data Research, said the consortium exemplifies the benefits of public-private collaboration in healthcare. He explained that under ASTHO’s oversight, state and territorial health agencies can safely pool their data to improve clinical practices and innovation. Combining this information with national real-world datasets allows for deeper public health insights and supports timely interventions. LaBonte added that Veritas will manage data ingestion and delivery while ensuring that all use cases are pre-approved by participating health agencies.
Andrew Kress, Chief Executive Officer of HealthVerity, emphasized that the consortium addresses a long-standing challenge in public health by providing secure identity resolution and protecting patient privacy. He stated that the initiative sets a new standard for data exchange while maintaining clinical accuracy. Kress noted that the consortium will accelerate research, enhance public health decision-making, and improve the speed and effectiveness of health interventions for communities across the United States.
Through this collaborative approach, ASTHO and its partners aim to create a more connected, reliable, and actionable public health data infrastructure, enabling better insights, faster responses, and stronger support for state and local health systems nationwide.
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