It is the purpose of this chapter to establish a health information data base that will assist the health care system to advance the general well-being of the population by better directing and improving the availability of health-care services.
It is the policy of this State to foster appropriate and efficient use of health-care resources by requiring information necessary for evaluating utilization patterns and costs to the community and the State for health-care services. This information shall be available to health-care purchasers, health-care insurers, health-care providers, health-care planners and the general public without compromise of patient confidentiality. Such information will improve decision making with regard to access, identified needs, patterns of health-care delivery, charges and use of health-care services.