Abstract
In April 2008, Japan started a nation-wide program of health checks and guidance (HC&G) targeting metabolic syndromes. All personal data related to HC&G are required to be transmitted electronically in XML format to insurers, which maintain a database to keep track of the health status of their enrollees aged 40-74 years. On the other hand, health insurance claims (HICs) from providers, majority of which are still submitted to insurers in paper form will be required to be transmitted electronically by April 2011. The government will be authorized to collect HC&G and HICs data from all insurers and it is foreseen that there will be a national database for improvement of quality of health care. Electronic transmission of HC&G and HIC data are likely to provide an IT infrastructure to serve as a precursor of regional health information networks connecting providers and insurers via information network. Such networks will enable insurers to provide effective disease management programs for a variety of chronic diseases and contribute to long-term health care cost saving. In this article, the author describes technological aspects of the HC&G and HIC data transmission system and its future potential to develop into regional health information networks integrating insurers and providers.
