Bridging Risk Adjustment and Quality: Turning Data Into Meaningful Patient Outcomes

Welcome to another episode of Care Decoded , the show where we break down the complexities of risk adjustment, documentation, and AI to power better healthcare. In today’s episode, host Dr. Sunil Nihalani is joined by Subbu Ramalingam — a seasoned former health plan executive and expert at the intersection of star ratings, risk adjustment, and healthcare quality. Together, Sunil and Subbu dig into why star ratings aren’t just about checking boxes, but about truly improving patient care and experience. They discuss how health plans and providers can bridge the often-siloed worlds of risk adjustment and quality improvement and why accurate data and collaboration are key to better — and more meaningful — outcomes. You’ll hear real-world examples illustrating how documentation and coding impact patient care, the latest updates on CMS risk adjustment data validation (RADV) audits, and why aligning risk and quality programs matters more than ever. Plus, Subbu shares actionable advice for healthcare leaders looking to turn mountains of data into engines for quality while keeping the patient at the center of it all. If you’re a healthcare leader, clinician, or just passionate about making sense of the care ecosystem, this episode is packed with the insights you need to help decode the path toward better care. Let’s dive in! Timestamps: 00:00 Data's Role in Meaningful Care 04:01 Optimizing Patient Care Experience 09:37 Risk Adjustment and Eligibility Alignment 14:00 Coordinating Care for Diabetic Members 17:48 CMS Launches Overdue RAD Audits 20:29 Enhancing Health Plan Audit Processes 22:35 Healthcare Industry Shift Forecast 27:16 Health Plan Overdocumentation Issues 31:02 Healthcare System Risk Score Management 33:38 Aligning Health KPIs and Outcomes 35:56 Chronic Care Spending Concerns 40:19 Healthcare Data Interoperability Challenges 43:18 Integrating Home Data in Care Subbu Ramalingham - https://www.linkedin.com/in/subburamalingam/ ATTAC Consulting Group (ACG) - https://www.attacconsulting.com/ Podcast's Website - https://caredecoded.com/ Dr. Sunil Nihalani - CEO and Founder at Inferscience - https://www.linkedin.com/in/sunil-nihalani-a6983a5/ Inferscience - https://www.inferscience.com/ Podcast Powered by TopHealth - https://tophealth.care/ “Disclaimer: Informational only. Not medical advice. Consult your doctor for guidance.”