I hope other folks will follow John Bristor's example and share sample EDI data with me to assist in the Identifiers analysis. Obviously, the volume may get out of hand, which is all the more reason to send your data to me privately - unless it's a particularly small or illuminating example.
Any data you send should be de-identified. Claredi has an X12 De-Identification Utility at http://www.claredi.com/ - just choose "free stuff" and go for it! Claredi's program just replaces patient and subscriber (i.e., PHI) information, and leaves all the parts we're interested in (payer and provider) intact. This is also a good excuse for you to get a digital ID so we can communicate securely. If you write me privately, I'll respond with an e-mail with my digital ID included as a pkcs7-signature attachment (which probably shows up as a red ribbon in your e-mail client). I can't "digitally" sign a posting to this listserve since attachments aren't allowed. If you don't have a digital ID yourself, yet, please get a FREE Personal Email Certificate from http://www.thawte.com/, and select "Secure Your Email." This will be either a test of Technical IQ and/or perseverance to get it working! I use encryption whenever I get a chance - many of my correspondents have been talked into using it (though they laugh at first). All sorts of luminaries in the e-commerce field, starting with me, are now using digital IDs. After futzing awhile with Outlook Express, Outlook or Netscape Communicator, most people eventually get it working. If we're pushing encryption and authentication onto providers and payers when sending PHI (personal health information) over the Internet, we had better get used to eating the same dog food! William J. Kammerer Novannet, LLC. +1 (614) 487-0320
