By Regan Pennypacker, MSL, CCEP
As we turn the calendar to February, the fast-moving pace of the new year shows no sign of a slowdown. The classic tune “Under Pressure” resonates more than ever within our industry. Organizations across the country are holding their breath while waiting for audit notices and fulfilling complex reporting deliverables.
The Medicare Parts C and D Oversight and Enforcement Group has announced significant process changes to program audits, not to mention the draft 2027 protocol that may have come across a few desks. Simultaneously, the Audit and Vulnerabilities Group has adjusted its Risk Adjustment Data Validation Audit strategy, with CMS aiming to expand these audits to all eligible MA contracts.
The Long and Winding Road Ahead CMS oversight is a long road that keeps stitching itself ahead of us, and many teams are finding themselves stretched thin. Pencils are back in hand as organizations visualize 2027 in light of the Advance Notice and ongoing congressional pressure. With so much focus on reviewing the past and planning for next year, how do we effectively take stock of the present?
The Show Must Go On My late crisis management professor, Richard Levick, always said, “Perception is king”. While perception is not reality, the glasses we wear tint the story we tell ourselves. By removing the lens of our own biases and judgments, we can better analyze what is in front of us and make genuine enhancements.
In 2026, I suggest we consciously step back when under pressure. For me, that often means phoning a friend, asking the hard questions, and continuing to educate myself. Industry demands will remain, so let us remove the pressure we impose upon ourselves and focus on what is truly in our control.
Need a “friend to phone” for your next audit? Regan and the ATTAC team are here to help you remove the lens of bias and gain a clear, strategic view of your compliance landscape.
Learn More: ATTAC ASSURANCE PROGRAM
