The National Minority Quality Forum (NMQF) and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) recently hosted a powerful discussion through the Data Equity Coalition titled “Interoperability: The Engine for Data Equity — Why SPD-15 Matters.” Moderated by Courtney Lang, JD, Founder and Principal of Langco + Partners, the event featured insights from Aishat Magbade, Director of Health Equity Policy at BCBSA, and Chinonye Onwunli, Managing Director of Health Information Technology Policy at BCBSA and Lecturer of Health Administration at NYU’s Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service.

The conversation centered on a critical truth: We cannot close gaps that we cannot see.

Why Data Equity Matters

Data equity means fairness in how information is collected, analyzed, and shared. When data systems fail to include everyone, communities that have been historically overlooked remain invisible in health research, funding, and policy decisions. The Data Equity Coalition works to ensure that race, ethnicity, language, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, and geography are consistently and accurately represented in national data.

A cornerstone of this work is Statistical Policy Directive 15 (SPD-15), a federal standard first issued in 1977 to guide how agencies collect race and ethnicity data. Recent 2024 updates to SPD-15 made significant progress, including the creation of a new Middle Eastern and North African (MENA) category and the ability for people to self-identify using a combined race and ethnicity question. These changes make national data more representative of the country’s true diversity.

Yet, as Magbade emphasized, “minimum standards are just the start.” Advocates must continue pushing for data systems that allow individuals to describe themselves as they truly are—ensuring full visibility and representation across health programs and policies.

Interoperability: The Digital Bridge

Onwunli described interoperability as the ability for health information to move seamlessly and securely between systems—whether between a doctor’s office, a hospital, or a public health agency. When interoperability works, care becomes more coordinated, prior authorizations move faster, and treatment becomes more personal.

Without it, data remains siloed and invisible, leaving equity gaps unaddressed. Federal efforts led by the Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC), now under the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy (ASTP), are setting new technical standards through:

• U.S. Core Data for Interoperability (USCDI): Defines what health data must be shareable.

• FHIR APIs: Technology that allows systems to “speak the same digital language.”

• ONC Certification: Ensures that health IT systems meet interoperability standards.

Trust, Transparency, and Advocacy

True data equity also depends on trust. As more personal data is collected—including race, ethnicity, and gender identity—communities must be confident that their information will be handled responsibly. Transparency about who uses data and for what purpose encourages participation and more accurate self-reporting.

Speakers urged advocates to engage in policy discussions, reminding participants that “comment period is power.” When federal or state agencies request public feedback, it’s a crucial opportunity for community voices to shape how data is collected and used.

Finally, experts stressed that states must align with the federal SPD-15 update to maintain consistency. Fragmented standards weaken national progress toward equity and make disparities harder to track.

A Call to Action

The mission of the Data Equity Coalition is to make every person visible through standardized, interoperable, and trustworthy data. Interoperability isn’t just a technical goal—it’s a moral one.

Watch “Interoperability: The Engine for Data Equity — Why SPD-15 Matters” on the NMQF YouTube channel, and join NMQF’s Friday webinars to stay informed on how data, policy, and technology are shaping the future of health equity.