November 29, 2021

QMetrics serves as validator for the 2nd Cohort of NCQA’s Data Aggregator Validation (DAV) Program
19 organizations across the country have participated in the DAV Program within the first four months of the launch

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) and QMetrics have kicked off cohort two of the DAV program with six participants from various states across the country. The two-fold goal of the DAV program is to increase interoperability in quality reporting and decrease the provider burden of manual data collection. As a result of the program, health plans have increased access to reliable standard HEDIS^® supplemental data and providers can anticipate lessened administrative burden.

For cohort two, the participating organizations each have their own distinct operational processes for overseeing the management of clinical data, however they all have one common goal – to increase access to validated data for closing gaps in care and enhanced quality of care reporting for HEDIS and other quality programs. The unique timeline for cohort two was intentional to allow validated data to be included in HEDIS Measurement Year (MY) 2021 reporting. This cohort is a small but highly motivated group of organizations aiming to share validated data with health plans.

“We are thrilled to have officially launched the DAV program and are already in the second cohort,” said Wendy Talbot, NCQA AVP Measurement Certification. “The feedback from the participating organizations has been very positive including thanking us for helping them make significant process improvements after being validated.”

In addition to being the NCQA-approved validator, QMetrics has worked closely with NCQA over the past two years to develop the program protocols, standards, and primary source verification (PSV) methodology to review and evaluate all primary data sources used in data outputs. DAV is the first program in the country to validate data streams shared between Electronic Health Records (EHRs), data aggregators, and third-party recipients (e.g., health plans).

“Since its July launch, the DAV program has continued to grow and QMetrics is pleased to be in the role of validator,” said Suzan Mora Dalen, CEO and founder of QMetrics. “Several participating organizations have acknowledged the DAV program as being key to driving internal process improvement where data quality is now the focus on everyone’s role. Each organization has dedicated an incredible amount of time and resources to completing the program and have demonstrated their commitment to increasing data quality.”

Cohort one is also currently in progress with QMetrics as the validator and has 13 organizations participating which will conclude later this month. The third cohort of the DAV program will begin in February 2022. Contact NCQA to apply.

HEDIS^® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

September 1, 2021

QMetrics selected as the validator for NCQA’s Data Aggregator Validation (DAV) Program

The DAV Program Increases Interoperability for Quality Reporting and Reduces Provider Burden

QMetrics was selected as the validator for the Data Aggregator Validation (DAV) program by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). DAV is the first program in the country to validate data streams shared between Electronic Health Records (EHRs), data aggregators, and third-party recipients (e.g., health plans).  The two-fold goal of the DAV program is to increase interoperability in quality reporting and decrease the provider burden of manual data collection. Healthcare organizations now have access to validated data for closing gaps in care and enhanced quality of care reporting for HEDIS^® and other quality programs.  Providers can anticipate lessened administrative burden with reduced disruption of operational processes to meet data collection requests.

QMetrics has worked closely with NCQA over the past two years to develop the program protocols, standards, and primary source verification (PSV) methodology to review and evaluate all primary data sources used in data outputs. The pilot program included three Health Information Exchanges (HIEs) based in New York, followed by an early adopter phase including a large California HIE. The program now includes 15 organizations located in various states across the country.

“Our Data Aggregator Validation program was formed to address what payers were telling us, that HEDIS audits of clinical data from aggregator vendors could prove too burdensome,” said Rick Moore, NCQA Chief Information Officer. “Now NCQA can validate an aggregator’s data sources prior to a HEDIS reporting year, and then health plans may use the approved sources as standard supplemental data without requiring more audits at the plan level.”

“We are grateful to be part of this journey and use our extensive HEDIS audit expertise to help build the DAV program in collaboration with NCQA,” said Suzan Mora Dalen, CEO and founder of QMetrics. “This is a transformative time, and the DAV program is the evidence of the digital transformation taking place.”

The second Cohort of the DAV program will begin in October 2021.

HEDIS^® is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

                                               

Digital Quality Leaps Forward in Health Information Exchange Pilot
New York State Health Information Exchanges Raise Bar on Quality of Data Exchanged

The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) is pleased to announce the success of its new Data Aggregator Validation program (DAV) following a pilot project with the New York eHealth Collaborative (NYeC) and three of its health information exchange (HIE) members:

• • Hixny

  • HealtheConnections

  • HEALTHeLINK

All three earned one year of “Validated with Exception” status for their participation in the project. The “Validated with Exception” status signals to the industry that each exchange has the ability to share validated sources for standard supplemental data for use in measurement year 2020 HEDIS^® reporting.

NCQA chose consulting firm QMetrics as lead and evaluator for the pilot program. QMetrics worked closely with NCQA to develop the program protocols and with each HIE to ensure all Data Aggregator Validation program standards and protocols were met. That includes the primary source verification (PSV) process which reviews and evaluates all primary data sources used in aggregated data outputs.

“Our Data Aggregator Validation program was formed to address what payers were telling us, that HEDIS audits of clinical data from aggregator vendors could prove too burdensome,” said Rick Moore, NCQA Chief Information Officer. “Now, NCQA can validate an aggregator’s data sources prior to a HEDIS reporting year, and then health plans may use the approved sources as standard supplemental data without requiring more audits at the plan level.”

“DAV streamlines current approaches. It returns needed time and resources to both plans and providers,” added Wendy Talbot, NCQA Assistant Vice President of Measure Collection and Audits. “And we’re still moving closer to the ultimate goal—more data sources, better quality of data, and in a shorter time.”

Health plans now have access to an efficient process to collect high quality, comprehensive data for HEDIS measurement. Providers will see significantly curtailed burden. Care will not be disrupted as much to meet data collection requests from health plans. Both plans and providers can use the data created from this process to address other needs. For instance, closing care gaps and improving care delivery.

NCQA plans to conduct an Early Adopter phase prior to a broad roll out of the program in 2021.

HEDIS® is a registered trademark of NCQA.