Why 'dirty data' can derail health insurers' analytics

One of the biggest problems health plans face is dirty data, says Jordan Bazinsky, executive vice president and administrative officer at Atlanta-based Cotiviti. The healthcare solutions and analytics company reports having "several hundred" health insurance companies among its clientele, including 24 of the top 25 plans, he says. "Dirty data is one of the key problems that blocks health plans from finding insights from data," Bazinsky says. "You might be able to push data real-time, but if you can't trust the underlying kernel of data--all the other things can't be trusted." According to Bazinsky, Cotiviti uses data analytics to help payers achieve financial health through payment accuracy that is appropriate to the care delivered.