Data Quality Assurance

FHIR Data Validation: Catch Errors Before Submission

Our platform validates healthcare data quality BEFORE HEDIS calculations using FHIR queries. Discover errors early—when you can still fix them—not after the NCQA submission fails.

Quick Reference: What is FHIR?

FHIR (Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources)

The open standard that lets healthcare systems exchange data—like HTTPS for medical records

Data at Rest Validation

Checking data quality in the database BEFORE running calculations or submitting reports

HEDIS (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set)

Quality measures used by Medicare/Medicaid to evaluate healthcare organizations

NCQA (National Committee for Quality Assurance)

Organization that certifies quality reporting and accepts HEDIS submissions

Why "Validate at Submission" Fails

Legacy Approach: Too Late

Step 1: Collect data for 3 months

Manual chart reviews, hoping data is complete

Step 2: Submit to NCQA

Package files, cross fingers, send submission

Step 3: NCQA rejects submission

❌ Missing patient demographics
❌ Invalid diagnosis codes
❌ Test dates outside measurement period
❌ Provider NPI not found

Step 4: Deadline passed—can't fix

Measurement period closed, STAR rating impacted

Result: Like Elevance's $375M loss—discovered too late to prevent

Our Approach: Early Detection

Step 1: FHIR queries validate data daily

Automated checks run continuously

Step 2: Errors flagged immediately

✓ Patient missing birthdate → Alert provider
✓ Invalid ICD-10 code → Fix in EHR now
✓ Lab result missing → Order test today
✓ Provider needs credentialing → Start process

Step 3: Fix while measurement period open

Plenty of time to correct issues and close care gaps

Step 4: Clean submission accepted

NCQA submission passes validation, STAR rating protected

Result: Prevent losses by catching errors when you can still fix them

How FHIR Queries Validate Data Quality

Example 1: Diabetes HbA1c Testing (HEDIS CDC Measure)

Requirement: Diabetic patients must have HbA1c test within measurement year

# FHIR Query to Find Tests

GET /Observation?

patient=Patient/12345&

code=4548-4&

date=ge2024-01-01&

date=le2024-12-31

code=4548-4 → LOINC code for HbA1c test

date range → Must be in 2024 measurement period

Returns → All matching lab results with values

Validation Checks:

Patient exists with diabetes diagnosis

FHIR Condition resource validates diagnosis

HbA1c test has valid LOINC code

4548-4 is the correct standardized code

Test date within measurement period

Between January 1 - December 31, 2024

Result value properly formatted

e.g., "7.2%" or "55 mmol/mol" with units

✓ Data validated BEFORE calculation

If test missing, alert provider to order it NOW

Example 2: Colorectal Cancer Screening (HEDIS COL Measure)

Requirement: Adults 45-75 need colonoscopy within 10 years OR FIT test annually

# Check for Colonoscopy

GET /Procedure?

patient=Patient/67890&

code=44388,44389,45378&

date=ge2015-01-01


# OR Check for FIT Test

GET /Observation?

patient=Patient/67890&

code=27396-1,29771-3&

date=ge2024-01-01

Complex Validation Logic:

Patient age 45-75 on Dec 31, 2024

Calculated from FHIR Patient.birthDate

Valid CPT codes for colonoscopy

44388, 44389, 45378 accepted by NCQA

10-year lookback for colonoscopy

OR 1-year lookback for FIT test

Provider credentialed for procedure

FHIR Practitioner validates NPI and specialty

⚠ If neither test found

Care gap identified → Trigger outreach workflow NOW

What FHIR Validation Prevents

Submission Failures

NCQA rejects 15-30% of initial submissions due to data quality errors. Our FHIR validation catches these BEFORE submission.

Common errors caught:

  • • Missing patient demographics
  • • Invalid diagnosis/procedure codes
  • • Test dates outside measurement period
  • • Incomplete provider information

STAR Ratings Losses

Elevance lost $375M when their rating dropped from 3.75 to 3.5 stars due to data quality issues discovered too late.

How validation helps:

  • • 6-month advance warning of rating risk
  • • Identify missing quality measures early
  • • Time to close care gaps proactively
  • • Prevent rating drops before CMS announces

Wasted Labor

Manual chart reviews take 200+ hours/month and still miss errors. FHIR queries validate in seconds with 100% consistency.

Time savings:

  • • 40 hours/month saved on chart abstraction
  • • 38 hours/quarter saved on NCQA prep
  • • Zero rework from validation errors
  • • Staff focuses on patient care, not data entry

Validate Data Quality Before It's Too Late

See how FHIR queries catch data errors early when you can still fix them