Choosing the Right Claims Data Partner: A 4-Point Checklist

Ask anyone in the healthcare data space: not all claims data is created equal. Consolidation, network instability, and growing privacy concerns have made it more challenging than ever for life sciences organizations to find the right data to conduct their research and meet their business objectives with confidence. The market is full of vendors offering access to different kinds of real-world data for commercial, market access, or medical use. Evaluating these partners and their data can be tricky, especially with volatile changes to the real-world data landscape over the last few years.

As business needs evolve and more pressure is placed on teams to act with speed and confidence, real-world data must be more than just broad and timely; it must also be complete, stable, and responsibly sourced. Asking the right questions up front can save time, money, and frustration later. Here’s a four-point checklist to help evaluate whether your current (or future) real-world data partner can meet the moment.

1. Do they offer both open and closed claims data?

Open and closed claims data offer different strengths. Closed claims are payer-specific but offer longitudinal completeness, while open claims offer a broader view across providers and payers, but can lack full capture. Using both together can give you a fuller picture, and the right partner will already have linked these sources together to give you a more complete and up-to-date view of the patient journey.

Forian’s CHRONOS™ platform takes this hybrid approach by combining multiple closed and open claims datasets into a single, seamless schema. This integration allows for a more comprehensive longitudinal view of patient care and treatment patterns across a wide range of therapeutic areas. This view supports a deeper understanding of patient journeys and enables more precise, data-driven decisions.

2. How stable is their data network? 

The industry is seeing frequent mergers and acquisitions, shifting access policies, and fluctuating license terms that can quickly disrupt your research or targeting strategies. If your current vendor sources from a single network or relies heavily on other aggregators, it may be time to re-evaluate.

Forian’s data network is designed to minimize the risk of sudden changes in coverage or availability. This stability is the result of proactive efforts over the last 18 months to source data in ways that address large-scale data disruptions.

3. Can they show evidence of data governance and stewardship? 

With real-world data under greater scrutiny from regulators, the stakes for responsible data management have never been higher. Look for a partner that not only complies with HIPAA and SOC-2 but goes beyond it. Are data de-identification methods reviewed by external experts? Is patient-level privacy rigorously maintained? Is the organization investing in ethical, secure data practices? Each patient should have a unique, traceable, and compliant identity across multiple sources without risk of re-identification.

4. Do they support speed to insight? 

In commercial strategy, timing and accuracy are everything. Your data partner should make it easy to explore populations, define cohorts, and perform analyses without weeks of back and forth. Prioritize data delivery approaches that provide transparency, minimize manual steps, and reduce delays from custom requests. The right approach will help your team move faster and make decisions with greater confidence.

Final Thoughts

Hybrid claims data can unlock better targeting, faster insights, and more confident decisions, but only if it’s stable, complete, and responsibly managed. As you navigate the evolving data landscape, use this checklist to guide your evaluation and ensure your partner is equipped to deliver long-term value.

Want to learn more about how Forian’s CHRONOS™ database meets each of these criteria? Get in touch with our team.