JUNE 2021

Symphony Newsletter

We’re halfway through 2021! Dig into the newsletter for progress updates on the Symphony Provider Directory and details about upcoming events.

Next portal release

To better serve Symphony web portal users, we moved to a monthly release schedule earlier this year. The next release is scheduled for Friday, June 25. Look for an email with the release notes on Tuesday, June 29.

Q4 data submission reminder 

If you’re a Symphony contracted organization, please make sure to submit your data in the new tier-3 structure by Friday, July 16 in order to meet the requirements of the Symphony data model and participate in Q4 attestation. The tier-3 structure enables us to align your networks with your contracted organizations. The three tiers - Plan Type, Line of Business, and Contracted Party - let us match up provider networks even when organizations have different proprietary data management practices. If you have any questions, please contact your Client Success Manager. 

Symphony-Availity Integration Webinar

Mark your calendars for the Symphony-Availity Integration Webinar on Wednesday, October 6. Providers will learn about the pathway for data ingestion using the Symphony-Availity integration and how to use the Availity Provider Data Management Portal to update and attest. Watch for an invitation in September! Details for a webinar specific to health plans will be announced soon.

IHA’s 2021 Virtual Stakeholder's Conference

Join us on Wednesday, November 3, for IHA’s Virtual Stakeholder's Conference. We’ll share updates about Symphony’s 2021 progress and plans. You’ll also gain insights into the changing regulatory requirements in California, as well as AMP program updates and performance results. As we finalize conference details this summer, find the latest updates and the program agenda here. Registration opens in August.  

Meet IHA’s Data Governance Committee (DGC)

This group advises IHA’s Governance Committee, which oversees strategy and direction for all of IHA’s programs. The Symphony team consults with the DGC for its expertise on a variety of subjects, including recommendations for data model modifications or expansion and how to interpret and apply compliance requirements as we drive toward standardization. The DGC also provides input into Symphony’s roadmap, product enhancements, and expansion strategy. 

Representing stakeholders across California, the committee brings together experts from the following health plans and provider organizations:  

• Aetna 
• Anthem 
• Blue Shield of California 
• Health Net 
• Kaiser Permanente 
• L.A. Care Health Plan 
• Sharp Health Plan 
• United Healthcare 
• Hill Physicians Medical Group 
• MedPOINT Management 
• Optum 
• Prospect Medical Group 
• Sharp Rees-Stealy Medical Group 
• Stanford Health Care 
• Sutter Medical Group 
• Covered California 

Data Quality Framework pilot drives industry-wide standardization 

Improving the quality of provider directory data is central to Symphony’s vision. To begin measuring the quality of provider data submitted in a consistent and meaningful way, we’ve developed a Data Quality Framework. We wrapped up a pilot project in Q1 with three provider organizations to test out our newly defined framework. 

The framework has three pillars that contribute to a provider organization’s data quality score: timeliness, validity and completeness, and accuracy.  

• Timeliness measures how frequently clients send and update their data files 
• Validity and completeness look at which data elements are missing or invalid, with an emphasis on those related to SB 137 
• Accuracy focuses on a prioritized set of data issues related to consumer directories as well as attestation response rates

The Data Quality reports will enable the Symphony team to establish baselines and drive iterative improvements in data quality over time. As health plans work toward automating data ingestion from providers, the framework will also help assess provider readiness to exchange data through Symphony. With the pilot project now complete, the Data Quality Framework is rolling out to additional targeted Symphony provider organizations this year. Watch for future updates as we work together toward more complete and accurate provider data. 

Symphony website update 

We've created a more comprehensive Symphony Provider Directory section on IHA.org, making it easier to navigate between Symphony information and other IHA programs, events, and news. We will sunset the existing Symphony website in the coming month. But don't worry, any existing links you have will direct you to the same information on IHA.org.