What Is a Health Data Utility?

A health data utility (HDU) is a not-for-profit organization with information exchange at its core and multi-stakeholder governance which, through its mission and function, seeks to meet the comprehensive health data delivery and analytics needs of a state’s public and private sectors.

An HDU is designed to function much like a public utility, responsible for essential, statewide health data connectivity and governed for the public good. Typically designated or recognized by the state, an HDU operates within a minimally regulated framework but is held accountable to transparent governance processes. It builds cooperative relationships with state agencies, including public health departments and Medicaid, while also supporting the private health care sector’s needs for secure, standards-based health data sharing in treatment, operations, quality measurement, population health management, and other key functions.

Core to the HDU model is the principle that secure, privacy-compliant access to health and health-related information—covering both individuals and populations—should be readily available to those with a legitimate need, consistent with federal and state laws. HDUs maintain and enhance high-quality, curated data assets, integrating inputs from multiple sectors, and providing technical services such as master patient indexing, data normalization, longitudinal records, and real-time event notifications. By doing so, they enable a wide range of use cases, from public health reporting and emergency preparedness to value-based care, research, and cross-sector social data integration.