DV Training & Program Background
This training offers Sponsoring Organizations (SOs) and Data Validation Contractors (DVCs) an opportunity to learn more about the DV Program and its specific requirements. We’ll start with an overview of the program’s background.
Important Reminder:
You should complete the 2025 DV training before the DVCs start DV on April 1. Your certificate will show completion of the current cycle’s training, and then you can start work for the 2025 DV cycle.
CMS Requirements
SOs contracted to offer Medicare Part C or Part D benefits, or both, must report data to CMS throughout the year based on a variety of health and drug plan reporting sections.
SOs are subject to an independent yearly review to audit certain data reported to CMS to determine its reliability, validity, completeness, and comparability following specifications developed by CMS. This review process is known as the DV program.
An independent DVC (reviewer) conducts the DV review annually from April 1 to June 15. The review includes data sent to CMS by March 31 based on the previous calendar year's Reporting Requirements (RR). CMS won't accept data an SO sends or resends after March 31 for the DV review.
Each DVC sends its annual DV review findings on its client SO's data to CMS by June 15.
More Resources
Refer to the 2025 Medicare Part C and Part D Reporting Requirements Data Validation Procedure Manual, also referred to as the DV Manual. The 2025 DV Manual is a collection of files in a zip folder under the Downloads section of the webpage. It has:
- Reporting standards
- Data validation specifications
- Supplemental tools and guides for SOs and DVCs involved in the DV process
This course will introduce and reference these related files.