Maryland Medical Care Data Base (MCDB)
The Maryland Medical Care Data Base (MCDB) serves as the state’s official All-Payer Claims Database (APCD), providing a comprehensive repository of enrollment, provider, and claims data for residents.
While the database houses information spanning Medicare Advantage, Medicare fee-for-service, and Medicaid Managed Care Organizations, the private and Medicaid claims remain the primary datasets available for approved data release. This robust resource acts as a critical healthcare data source for state partners like the Maryland Insurance Administration and the Health Services Cost Review Commission, enabling detailed policy analyses, cost and utilization estimates, and the rigorous evaluation of healthcare demonstration programs.
However, the scope of the MCDB has been shaped by significant legal and federal shifts over the last decade. Following the Supreme Court’s ruling in Gobeille v. Liberty Mutual Insurance Company, the database began excluding self-insured ERISA health plan data in 2015. This was further impacted in 2019 when data from the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) was excluded due to an Office of Personnel Management (OPM) ruling. As a result of these mandatory exclusions, the MCDB currently captures approximately 56% of Maryland’s commercial insurance data, reflecting a focused but specific subset of the state’s private healthcare landscape.
Contact Us
For questions about the MCDB, please email mhcc.datarelease@maryland.gov.