As value-based care (VBC) programs evolve, health centers and payers face increasing pressure to improve outcomes, close care gaps, and accurately measure performance. None of this is possible without complete, trusted, and accessible data—and that’s where supplemental data submission becomes essential.
Supplemental data submission is the process of sending clinical data that does not appear in claims—such as labs, vitals, cancer screenings, immunizations, and care gap closure evidence—from a practice to a payer.
This data fills key gaps in payer datasets and ensures providers receive accurate credit for the care they deliver. In VBC programs where shared savings and incentives depend on measure performance, supplemental data plays an outsized role in both clinical and financial outcomes.
At Azara Healthcare, we’ve seen firsthand how organizations can unlock major financial and clinical gains when they pair supplemental data with strong payer-provider collaboration. The transformation experienced by SIU Medicine stands as a compelling example of what’s possible when payers and providers exchange data through a population health management platform.
Here are three key takeaways from this partnership that can guide any practice, network or health plan looking to accelerate their value-based initiatives:
1. Supplemental Data Integration Improves Performance Scores in Value-Based Care
Value-based contracts are complex. Attribution rules, measure definitions, and reporting updates vary widely across plans and without clear, transparent collaboration, providers are left guessing. Supplemental data strengthens the relationship between payers and providers by creating a shared understanding of patient needs and performance.
Why it matters:
- Supplemental data from providers fills clinical gaps that claims alone cannot capture.
- Payers gain clearer insights into actual care delivery.
- Providers gain clarity into expectations, gaps, and performance.
Result: Practices earn accurate credit for the work they do, payers report accurate measure performance and improve HEDIS and STARs scores, and payer-provider teams jointly plan and prioritize improvement.
2. Fragmented Data and Manual Processes Create Financial & Clinical Risks
Supplemental data can directly impact revenue by capturing missed incentives. When data is trapped in spreadsheets, siloed systems, or manual workflows, organizations lose visibility into contract performance—and risk leaving money on the table.
SIU Medicine’s Experience:
Before leveraging Azara DRVS, SIU managed quality data across 15 spreadsheets and lacked real-time insight into performance. These manual processes led to over $1.1M in incentive payments left on the table in a single year.
After implementing Azara DRVS and improving data integration, including supplemental data workflows, SIU achieved:
- 27.3% improvement in overall measure performance for a major Medicaid contract
- 25x increase in earned incentives, increasing from $2,800 to $70,560 in just months
> Read the full case study
Why it matters:
Supplemental data helps practices:
- Ensure payers are informed and able to recognize when care gaps are closed
- Improve performance scores tied directly to financial return
- Eliminate errors and inconsistencies that suppress incentive payments
Result: Capturing supplemental data isn’t just good practice, it is a financial strategy. Centralizing and standardizing data into a unified analytics platform eliminates duplication, reduces errors, and empowers care teams to monitor performance metrics in real time—recovering lost revenue and improving care delivery.
3. Data Trust and Accessibility Drive Engagement and Long-Term Improvement
Providers perform better when they trust and can act on their data. Even the best data holds little value if clinicians cannot see it, validate it, or use it. Frontline staff need transparent performance insights to drive improvement. Azara DRVS delivers timely, accessible dashboards that clinicians can access at the point of care or during daily workflows. This fosters a culture of continuous improvement, with empowered teams driving better patient outcomes and organizational success.
When clinicians trust the data, they engage more meaningfully in VBC efforts.
Why it matters:
- Late or inaccurate data undermines provider engagement
- Actionable dashboards allow teams to address gaps while there is still time
- Standardized reporting reduces confusion and builds confidence
Result: A culture of continuous improvement where teams take ownership of outcomes—and sustain progress year over year.
Building Shared Success Through Data and Partnerships
Successful value-based care doesn’t happen in silos—it thrives when payers and providers align around shared data, shared accountability, and shared goals. Supplemental data strengthens this foundation by improving measure accuracy, driving revenue, and empowering clinicians with trusted insights.
Azara Healthcare is proud to partner with organizations like SIU Medicine to build scalable, data-driven VBC programs that deliver better care and stronger financial outcomes.
If you’re ready to strengthen your VBC performance through better data integration and payer collaboration, we’d love to help. Contact us at solutions@azarahealthcare.com to learn more.
> Learn more about Value-Based Care Reporting
