The N.C. Health Information Exchange Authority, which manages the state-designated health information exchange, NC HealthConnex, has earned the Validated Data Stream designation through the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Data Aggregator Validation program.
This validation means that payers such as NC Medicaid can look to NC HealthConnex as a single, trusted source of data, and health care providers who are participants of the NC HIEA do not have to go through a time-consuming validation process for quality reporting measures every time a payer wants to use their data.
“The shared vision between NC Medicaid and the NC HIEA to leverage NC HealthConnex for quality measure reporting is one step closer to becoming a reality,” said Christie Burris, executive director of the NC HIEA. “Through efforts like these, we will save state dollars and relieve provider administrative burden while continually working to adhere to the NCQA’s high standards of data quality.”
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization that accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. The NCQA Data Aggregator Validation program provides confirmation that the data in NC HealthConnex is aligned with the data in the participating health system's electronic health record.
Two health systems, Duke Health and UNC Health, partnered with the NC HIEA to achieve this validation. Data streams that earn validation undergo a rigorous, end-to-end look at the quality and integrity of data and the procedures used to manage and safeguard it.
Shannon Dowler, chief medical officer for NC Medicaid, also celebrated this milestone. “As payers look for ways to reduce administrative burden while simultaneously capturing the quality of care being delivered on the ground, capitalizing on embedded data from electronic health records is a critical step in reducing the epidemic of burnout facing health care providers while driving for the best possible health of the population.”
A key component of NC Medicaid’s Quality Strategy is measuring and incentivizing health care providers to improve their performance. This validation contributes greatly towards making the data flowing through to health care providers and public health analysts even more useful in its ability to improve quality of care and health outcomes for North Carolina residents.