TrendSource, Inc. Launches CMS Compliance Secret Shopping Program

Online, August 28, 2009 (Newswire.com) - SAN DIEGO, CA. - TrendSource, Inc., the industry leader in quality customer experience and compliance services, announced today the launch of their Custom Secret Shopping Programs to assist Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plan Organizations ensure compliance with Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Marketing Requirements. The company provides comprehensive evaluations of MA organizations Sales Agent activity to protect Medicare beneficiaries from deceptive or high-pressure marketing tactics.
CMS aggressively monitors marketing activities with "Secret Shoppers" and move with enforcement measures or other actions if these rules are violated. They have recently tripled the number of "secret shopper" activities in which a Medicare official poses as a prospective enrollee and monitors sales agents' presentations for inaccurate information and prohibited sales tactics.
MA and PDP Organizations are now seeing the need and value in proactively implementing a Secret Shopping Program to eliminate the danger of voluntary or imposed suspension of marketing activity and termination from the program. A Proactive Secret Shopping program will reduce risk of CMS response, build a foundation of trust and increase efficiency of sales agent oversight.

The nationally recognized TrendSource Healthcare Services Team has developed a proprietary program to meet the individual needs of MA & PDP Organizations nationwide. Healthcare team leader Jodi Manfredi said "TrendSource understands organizations have unique requirement and regulations. Our programs allow flexibility and provide custom solutions that deliver relevant, actionable and reliable data."

TrendSource utilizes highly skilled Healthcare Field Agents to conduct Face-to-Face meetings and attend Community Events during but not limited to Annual & Open Enrollment time periods. MA and PDP Organizations have also engaged TrendSource to monitor and report Call Center activity. In the event they uncover prohibited marketing activity, TrendSource's proprietary reporting capabilities will generate email alerts in real time allowing organizations to take corrective action immediately.

"ESSENCE Healthcare is committed to providing quality service and accurate information at every point of contact with potential members," said Debra Gribble, Executive Vice President of ESSENCE and a TrendSource client. "The Secret Shopping Program is one measure we are taking to ensure Medicare beneficiaries have the best possible experience during this important decision period."

"Our recent acquisition of Examine Your Practice® has afforded us the opportunity to utilize our highly skilled Field Agent force and proven proprietary systems and processes to support the insurance industry in ensuring regulatory compliance and protecting the Medicare beneficiaries. We believe that this new service will satisfy a need and prove valuable to the insurance industry." said Robert Post, President/CEO of TrendSource.
About TrendSource
TrendSource® was established in 1989 under the name Mystery Shoppers, Inc. The company's name was changed to TrendSource in 2004 to better reflect the developing role the company plays for clients in the marketplace and in its offering of customized market research and business intelligence services.

Over the past 20 years TrendSource has emerged as an industry leader and innovator by consistently providing clients with high quality real-time data that is relevant, reliable and actionable. Many of their clients are FORTUNE™ ranked companies and leaders in their respective market sectors.

TrendSource's award winning team of dedicated professionals has a unique commitment to integrity and quality while exceeding their clients' expectations. It is their conviction that quality starts with having the right people who perform to stringent quality standards (ISO Certified), and are supported by innovative technology. Their performance based team follows the motto "Do what we say and deliver it when we say we will".

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