Major health insurers agree to supply health claims data to new academic institute

This agreement, which The New York Times described as "unusual," will create a database for research on health care costs and utilization, according to The Wall Street Journal. 

The New York Times: 4 Insurers Will Supply Health Data
Several major health insurers have agreed to provide their claims data on a regular basis to academic researchers, in an unusual agreement that they say will open a window onto the rising costs of health care (Abelson, 9/19).

The Wall Street Journal: Health Insurers Will Give Claims Data to Institute
Several major health insurers say they will provide information on billions of medical-billing claims in their books to a new academic institute, which will create a database for research on health care costs and utilization (Mathews, 9/19).