Siva Bala
About Siva Bala
Siva Bala is a Senior Data Analyst with extensive experience in healthcare analytics, currently working at RELI Group, Inc. in Baltimore, Maryland. He has a strong background in managing analytical tasks for significant healthcare projects, including MACRA, and has held various roles in academia and industry over the past two decades.
Work at RELI Group
Siva Bala has been employed at RELI Group, Inc. as a Senior Data Analyst since 2016. In this role, he focuses on data analysis and management, contributing to various projects that require extensive analytical skills. His experience in the healthcare sector, particularly with Medicare data, informs his work at RELI Group, allowing him to provide valuable insights and support for data-driven decision-making.
Previous Experience in Academia and Industry
Before joining RELI Group, Siva Bala held several significant positions. He worked at the University of Maryland as an Assistant Professor and SAS Programmer Analyst from 2007 to 2013. He also served as a Senior SAS Programmer at UBC - An Express Scripts Company for two months in 2013 and as a Senior Application Developer at CSRA from 2014 to 2016. Additionally, he was a Senior Research Fellow at Case Western Reserve University from 1996 to 2007, accumulating over a decade of experience in research and data analysis.
Education and Expertise
Siva Bala holds a Master’s Degree and a Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) in Biochemistry from the University of Madras. His educational background provides a strong foundation for his analytical work in healthcare data. He has developed expertise in SAS programming, data validation, and the analysis of Medicare claims, which are critical for his roles in various projects, including those related to the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act of 2015 (MACRA).
Key Projects and Contributions
Throughout his career, Siva Bala has managed and contributed to several key projects. Notably, he played a significant role in the MACRA project, where he processed and analyzed claims related to various Alternative Payment Models (APMs). He also led the End Stage Renal Disease Quality Incentive Program Data Validation and Reliability (QIPDVR) project, focusing on data validation from CMS data repositories. His work includes creating algorithms to detect fraud, waste, and abuse in APMs, which supports policy recommendations.