Qlarant Contracts

Qlarant will be conducting National Core Indicator (NCI) Survey and Data Collection for the Alabama Department of Mental Health, Division of Developmental Disabilities.  Qlarant will complete face to face interviews across five regions in the state with people enrolled in Intellectual Disability and Living at Home waivers and wit enrollees in the Community Waiver Program.

2023-2024

Qlarant is supporting promotion of the National Center on Advancing Person-Centered Practices and Systems (NCAPPS) and application for Technical Assistance (TA) by

• helping to inform the development of the TA application process by reviewing and providing feedback on materials developed by HSRI,
• sharing available technical resources for use in TA and in the website repository of information, and
• providing outreach and encouragement to Puerto Rico to take advantage of TA and peer learning opportunities.

2022-2023

Qlarant is helping IPRO to meet its CMS HQIC Task Order contractual obligations by providing expert healthcare quality improvement (QI) resources, monthly performance reporting and implementation of related task order activities. Qlarant associate Lynda Martin serves as a Patient Safety SME, leads and oversees the clinical QI and technical assistance (TA) program delivery with the 271 IPRO HQIC participating hospitals in 12 states, and supports IPRO leaders with administrative contract activities. Qlarant associate Kelly Arthur engages and provides tailored TA to six HQIC participating hospitals in the Delaware and Maryland service areas.

2020-2024

Qlarant is a subcontractor to HRS Consulting, Inc. (HRS)—one of six Primes on the IHT vehicle—to provide best value healthcare and professional consulting services to the VHA.

Through the IHT vehicle, Qlarant will assist with the completion of an organizational change that enhances VHA’s capabilities to provide seamless, high quality, integrated, and coordinated healthcare. The VHA will release task orders addressing the changing needs of the Veteran population and the healthcare industry, which will require diverse healthcare operations knowledge and experience. This contract supports the programmatic and transformation needs of VHA, including the Office of Healthcare Transformation and its customers, to best accomplish VHA’s mission, strategic goals, healthcare priorities, and initiatives. For IHT inquiries, contact IHT@IHTHRS.com.

Selected by CMS as the UPIC SW in 2017, Qlarant is performing fraud, waste and abuse detection, deterrence and prevention activities for Medicare and Medicaid claims for CMS within the Southwestern Jurisdiction for the states of Colorado, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi.

Request for Assistance Form

External Data Analysis Request for Information (RFI)

Selected by CMS as the UPIC W in 2017, Qlarant is performing fraud, waste and abuse detection, deterrence and prevention activities for Medicare and Medicaid claims within the Western Jurisdiction for the states* of Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington and Wyoming (*other territories of the Western Jurisdiction to include American Samoa, Northern Marianas Islands and Guam).

External Data Analysis Request for Information (RFI)

Request for Assistance Form (RFA)

The Investigations Medicare Integrity Contractor (I-MEDIC) as a task order (TO) under the Unified Program Integrity Contractor (UPIC) Indefinite Delivery Indefinite Quantity contract vehicle. The overall strategy for this five-year contract is to detect, prevent, and proactively deter fraud, waste, and abuse (FWA) in Medicare Parts C and D.

This work focuses primarily on complaint intake and response; data analysis; assessing leads from various sources; investigative actions; administrative remedies; referrals; and program integrity efforts related to potential FWA from prescribers, pharmacies, and beneficiaries. The I-MEDIC team coordinates with staff from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), CMS contractors, and other stakeholders to accomplish their goals. Federal law enforcement agencies may submit a Request for Information (RFI) to obtain Medicare Prescription Drug Event (PDE) data. Use the following HIPAA compliant for in lieu of Program Integrity Manual (PIM) exhibit 25 (DOJ) or Exhibit 37 (OG).

Data Analysis Request For Information (RFI) Form (pdf)

Request For Assistance (RFA) Form (pdf)

Investigations MEDIC Complaint Form (pdf)

Compromised ID Report Form (pdf)

The Plan Program Integrity MEDIC (PPI MEDIC) was awarded to Qlarant in July 2019. This contract replaced the previous National Benefit Integrity MEDIC, which was also held by Qlarant Inc. CMS originally awarded the National Benefit Integrity (NBI) MEDIC contract to Qlarant in 2005. In 2007, the MEDIC contract was awarded to Qlarant for regional Part C and D investigation services. In 2009, CMS again assigned responsibility to Qlarant to serve as the NBI MEDIC in all fifty states and Puerto Rico. As the MEDIC, Qlarant monitors the prescription drug program and investigates beneficiary complaints and leads for potential fraud, waste and abuse related to Medicare prescription drug benefits. Part of Qlarant’s solution for fighting fraud, waste and abuse is comprehensive data analytics and trend analysis of fraudulent practices. In 2018, CMS split the NBI MEDIC into two contracts: PPI MEDIC and Investigations MEDIC. The PPI MEDIC continues its efforts in plan sponsor oversight and data analytics. For request of information and submission of complaints please refer to the I-MEDIC Contract for details and forms.

Maryland, District of Columbia, West Virginia

Federal regulations require that states operating Medicaid managed care programs contract with an independent External Quality Review Organization (EQRO) to assess the quality, access and timeliness of health care services provided to Medicaid beneficiaries enrolled in managed care organizations (MCOs).

Mandatory External Quality Review (EQR) Activities

• Review of MCOs to determine compliance with federal and state requirements
• Validation of MCOs’ performance measures
• Validation of MCOs’ performance improve­ment projects
• Validation of MCOs’ network adequacy (new)
• Annual Technical Report on the quality of, access to, and timeliness of healthcare and services for Medicaid enrollees

Optional EQR Activities

• Validation of encounter data
• Validation of consumer surveys
• Calculation of performance measures
• Development of performance measures
• Conduct performance improvement projects
• Conduct focused clinical and non-clinical studies
• Readiness review of new MCOs

EQRO — Living the Mission

The External Quality Review Team identifies opportunities for improvement and recommends interventions that address barriers and aim to improve performance. For example, based on recommendations provided by the EQR Team, one ND MCO improved compliance in its Well-Child Visits in the 3rd, 4th, 5th and 6th Years of Life perfor­mance measure. Results improved from 34% compliance to 52% compliance—an 18 percentage point improvement.

The State of Florida’s Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) contracts with Qlarant to provide quality assurance for the state’s Disabilities and Aging Services system. Our number one goal in Florida has always been to improve the quality of support for Florida’s citizens with developmental disabilities. We work in partnership with the Agency for Persons with Disabilities (APD) at the central office and each local area office. We actively promote individuals’ rights, choice, full inclusion, health and safety, respect and dignity and satisfaction with services and supports.

florida.qlarant.com/

Qlarant, as a member of the Georgia Collaborative ASO, supports the State of Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities (DBHDD) to improve the quality of support services for Georgia’s citizens with developmental disabilities. Our mission is helping people to live everyday lives through collaborative quality improvement strategies that promote a person-directed service delivery system. We hope to enhance the service delivery system with results that reflect the choices and preferences that people consider most important. Please visit the Georgia Collaborative ASO website to learn more.

georgiacollaborative.com

Despite efforts to address health disparities, low-income and racial and ethnic minority popu­lations continue to face significantly worse quality of care in some areas of focus with gaps in health equity. The CMS Office of Minority Health (OMH) is focused on improving health care quality and health outcomes among Medicare and dually eligible minority and underserved populations; which aligns with the CMS’ Quality Strategy—Supporting Goals in a way that eliminates health disparities. CMS OMH has contracted with NORC to develop a 5-year CMS Equity strategic plan to infuse disparity reduction efforts in CMS programs.

Purpose—Qlarant’s Role

We utilize our subject matter expertise in health disparities, and Quality Improvement (QI) science to guide NORC is assisting CMS OMH to reduce health care disparities and improve health equity in CMS Medicare programs.

Qlarant is part of the IPRO Quality Improvement Organization (QIO) which includes Delaware, Maryland, District of Columbia, Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Rhode Island, New York, New Jersey, and Ohio. The network was tasked with implementing strategies to facilitate quality improvement throughout these regions. The AQIN aligns with the DHHS National Quality Strategy, the CMS Agency strategy goals including: better care, better health and lower costs (Triple Aim), prevention and population health, expanded health care coverage and enterprise excellence. Four foundational principles include: eliminating disparities, strengthening infrastructure and data systems, enabling local innova­tions and fostering learning organizations.

As part of this QIN-QIO, Qlarant is ded­icated to transforming health care and health care outcomes for patients. Our work will focus on several key quality improvement tasks including:

• Cardiac health and disparities in physician practices and Home Health Agencies
• Diabetes care and disparities through self-management
• Antibiotic stewardship
• Healthcare acquired nursing home conditions
• Care coordination to reduce admissions, readmissions and adverse drug events
• Clinician Quality Payment Program technical assistance
• Special Innovation Projects
• System-wide quality improvement initiatives from case review contractor referrals
• Immunization resources

Throughout our QIN-QIO work we will utilize results-oriented improvement approaches: use data to determine interventions that will be effective, involve patient and family at all phases of improvement efforts, focus on system-level interventions that can be sustained, use learning and action networks to convene stakeholders for large scale improvement and use tech­nical assistance and coaching when needed.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) awarded a contract to help clinicians in small practices in Maryland and the District of Columbia prepare for and participate in the new Quality Payment Program, established by the Medicare Access and CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).

This technical assistance, authorized and funded under MACRA, brought direct support to an estimated 5500 Merit-based Incentive Payment System (MIPS) eligible clinicians in small practices with 15 or fewer clinicians, including small practices in rural locations, health professional shortage areas, and medically underserved areas across the country. The direct technical assistance was available immediately, free to all MIPS eligible clinicians, and delivered support from 2017 through 2022.

Qlarant conducted interviews with individuals receiving state or waiver funded supports and services, using a variety of interview tools and techniques to gather experiences and opinions to evaluate quality. This information was used to assess the effectiveness of service delivery systems in meeting defined needs and generating individual’s desired outcomes. One interview tool used by Qlarant in multiple states is the National Core Indicators Adult Survey (NCI) developed by Human Services Research Institute (HSRI) in collaboration with the National Association of State Directors for Developmental Disability Services (NASDDDS).

The Qlarant team is expert in utilizing the NCI tool with various populations served through the following state service programs:

• Aging and Disabled
• Intellectual Disabilities
• Disabilities and Aging
• Head and Spinal Cord Injuries

Our trained staff schedules interviews at convenient times for the individuals being interviewed. Interview environments are individualized to account for unique communication styles and needs. Findings are compiled, analyzed and reported in a timely and confidential manner. Qlarant is recognized by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services as a QIO-like organization, enabling states to obtain a federal match for these quality improvement related activities.

2018-2022

Subcontractor to NORC at University of Chicago. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services 2014-2018

Subcontractor to Econometrica, Inc. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – 2011-2014

Subcontractor to IMPAQ International, LLC. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – 2011-2014

Subcontractor to IMPAQ International, LLC. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – 2016-2018

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – 2017-2018

Subcontractor to IPRO. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services -2014-2019

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – 2011-2014

Texas Health and Human Services Commission – 2012-2014

Delaware Department of Health and Social Services; Division of Medicaid and Medical Assistance; Delaware Department of Insurance – 2013-2015

Virginia Department of Behavioral Health & Developmental Services (DBHDS) – 2015-2018

South Carolina Department of Disabilities and Special Needs – 2007-2012

01/25/2018 – 06/30/2018

Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Aging Services –

03/01/2014 – 07/31/2014

06/15/15 – 12/31/15

06/30/17 – 06/29/2018

Subcontractor to Human Services Research Institute (HSRI). Georgia Department of Human Resources; Division of Aging Services. 2014-2015

Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – 2008-2015

Subcontractor to Beacon Health Options, Inc. Georgia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities – 2015-2018

Florida Agency for Health Care Administration (AHCA) – 2010-2017

Developmental Disabilities Individual Budgeting (iBudget) Home and Community-Based Services Waiver and the Consumer Directed Care Plus (CDC+) Program – 2017-2020

California Department of Developmental Services and Department of Public Health – 2013-2015

Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene – 2011-2016

2011-2014

District of Columbia Department of Health Care Finance – 2013-2018

2012-2018

Virginia Department of Medical Assistance Services – 2009-2015

2011-2016

Managed Care Organization – 2011-2016

Managed Care Organization – 2014-2019

2012-2018

For nearly a decade, Qlarant evaluated and subsequently audited potential fraud, waste and abuse of Medicaid claims dollars by beneficiaries and all types of providers in 6 of the 10 CMS Medicaid regions (34 states and D.C.). Qlarant utilized investigators, nurses, CPAs and auditors, in close collaboration with all the states and the Medicaid Fraud Control Units, to examine Medicaid health claims and/or identify issues of medical necessity or appropriateness of care when the medical records of an individual or a provider were evaluated. In addition, the MIC performed extensive medical review across all medical specialties, conducted audits of paid Medicaid claims across all provider types and settings of care to find overpayments or potential fraud and generated audit findings reports that directly resulted in recovery of money from providers. Qlarant developed a state mapping tool that contained information on eligibility and coverage for the 34 states in the MIC jurisdiction that facilitated reviews and evaluations. Qlarant’s work on the MIC contract was transitioned into its work on the UPIC contracts.

Qlarant worked with the State of Delaware from 2015 to 2020 to establish innovative and effective approaches to Medicaid fraud, waste and abuse. To that end, Qlarant utilized our in-house predictive modeling software system, PLATO, to assist the State of Delaware in evaluating its paid Medicaid claims to identify probable fraud and/or misuse of Medicaid dollars. In addition, Qlarant lent its expertise to train Delaware Medicaid employees on the use of PLATO to allow independent research of Medicaid claims and the selection of potential candidates (provider and/or beneficiary) for investigation by the State. The State of Delaware staff was also trained by Qlarant in medical review strategies.

Qlarant supported the activities of IBM Corporation by providing Predictive Modeling subject matter expertise to support the National Fraud Prevention System (“FPS”) by implementing a Predictive Modeling System capable of identifying high-risk claims and an integrated case management system that manages the predicting modeling alerts to conclusion. As a part of the IBM team, the organization provided extensive policy expertise to assist in the development of several models that have been highly successful in the FPS.