Aug 28, 2024
Blog
Medicare Parts C and D data validation for 2024 may seem far off in the future—it’s not even 2025 yet!
However, it will come sooner than expected, and it’s important to be ready rather than getting caught off guard. MetaStar offers top-notch audits and superior support during all phases of data validation. MetaStar’s exceptional net promoter score of 100 (out of 100) and impressive average customer recommendation score of 9.7 (out of 10) can be attributed to several reasons.
Pre-audit Pre-planning
Matt Walder, MetaStar’s data validation program lead, outlines the pre-audit preparation offered by MetaStar. This includes a webinar titled “Data Validation 101,” where clients learn about the fundamentals of the data validation project. Additionally, MetaStar hosts an all-client kickoff meeting to provide an overview of MetaStar’s data validation process and to share news and updates from the Centers for Medicaid & Medicare Services (CMS).
Following the all-client kickoff meeting, an individual call takes place between the MetaStar auditor and client “to answer any questions, to set expectations for the upcoming year, and get everyone on the same page,” explained Walder. After attending these meetings, clients have the necessary information to ensure a smooth and effective data validation audit.
Audit Assistance and Assurance
Once the data validation season begins on April 1, MetaStar auditors initiate the data validation audit, encompassing source code review, data recalculation, document collection, a virtual on-site visit, process review, and more. Throughout the process, MetaStar’s auditor maintains open communication with the client. They actively engage in dialogue, addressing inquiries, providing assistance, facilitating the exchange of necessary documents, and promptly responding to requests. “Our auditors guide you through every step and are always a resource throughout the year,” Walder said.
The success of MetaStar’s data validation program is in no small part due to the exceptional audit staff and the processes MetaStar has put in place. Walder stated that the audit team maintains continuity with clients year after year, fostering strong relationships and familiarity with processes and systems.
MetaStar auditors have been performing Parts C and D data validation since the program’s inception in 2011. In addition, all auditors are certified in Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS) and have experience with URAC accreditation data validation, making them highly knowledgeable in healthcare plan data. “They have good relationships with their clients,” Walder said. “The auditors can get you through your first year successfully, and there’s a lot of collaboration along the way.”
Essentials Plus Extras
In addition to data validation, the auditors at MetaStar provide additional assistance to ensure a seamless audit process. “We’re in contact regularly throughout the year to answer any questions,” Walder said. MetaStar’s auditors are also clear and open during the audit process and in sharing the findings they uncover. “There should be no surprises. We try to be as transparent as possible,” Walder said, referring to the data validation scores. “We explain our findings to our clients, and make sure they are in agreement. We’re in contact throughout the season, and we follow up with any questions or additional documentation requests we may require.”
Auditors can also offer valuable insights into the data validation process. Walder encourages clients to ask their auditor about successful audit practices they’ve observed from other clients. These insights are shared anonymously. “We’re transparent and collaborative, and we want to see our clients succeed,” Walder said.
Walder also offers some helpful suggestions for a successful audit. “Choose your auditor early,” Walder advises. “We only have 10 weeks to get the audit finished.” With a wealth of experience and a proven track record of success, MetaStar’s data validation team stands out as the top choice for Medicare Parts C and D data validation. The auditors understand the complexities of the process and the importance of accuracy and reliable data.
Above all, MetaStar prioritizes its clients, as Walder explains, “From a process perspective, we do our best to ease the burden on [the client] because they have so many other priorities. We try to make their lives easier.”