As we all noticed through continued testing and request to begin testing there
are definite gaps between what is desired through the X12N and current
information systems.  I believe one thing is constant and that is the
implementation of "HIPAA" is no longer an event but a process.  You could stand
firm and issue the statement that you will not process any information outside
of the implementation guides but by doing so you may end up affecting the health
of your business.  I say the best route is be HIPAA compliant through vigorous
testing but keep a good peripheral eye on what you may need to do to keep your
business health and then assist those that are having a difficult time trying to
become compliant.  If you are involved with any covered entity that refuses to
begin a plan towards compliancy only then would I file a complaint otherwise you
will fall into non-compliancy since you are sharing data via EDI in a
non-standard format.





"Lounsberry, Dave" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> on 06/12/2003 08:55:54 AM

Please respond to "Lounsberry, Dave" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>

To:    "WEDI SNIP Testing Subworkgroup List" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
cc:
Subject:    RE: your post on submitting clean transactions


Many of the companion guides are not "frivolous" they are the needed information
for the adjudication systems to pay a claim electronically. Until there is a
shift in the payer community to change the adjudication systems to only need the
required data in an x12 837 and to be able deal with all of the possible values
in the IG(s) there will be differences across the implementations. The reality
of the situation is that with the transaction rules in place the variances
between payer specific mandatory elements have become smaller than the variances
with legacy formats. Some plans are changing their systems to allow for all
possible values in an X12 837 to be acceptable for processing a claim. The
providers also need to move towards be able to provide all of the information in
a X12 837. These issues will work themselves out with time. Healthcare has
successfully implemented electronic claims in the past and that system is much
more fragmented than the HIPAA required system everyone is implementing now.

Dave Lounsberry
Translation Systems Analyst
BCBSNE

-----Original Message-----
From: Kepa Zubeldia [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Sent: Thursday, June 12, 2003 10:08 AM
To: WEDI SNIP Testing Subworkgroup List
Subject: Re: your post on submitting clean transactions


Jeff,

You ought to complain about this!  The problem is that if nobody complains, it
will never get fixed.  Providers need to start a "revolt" against these
frivolous companion guide requirements.  The fragmentation of the standards
into "custom" versions is probably one of the biggest threats that HIPAA has,
and one of the many reasons why the implementation is going so slow.

Kepa




On Thursday 12 June 2003 06:49 am, [EMAIL PROTECTED] wrote:
> Kepa,
>
> As a provider, I'm seeing quite the opposite of what you say about clean
> transactions, here in the real world.
>
> Regardless of the fact that federal regulation require a payer to accept
> a clean X12 claim, they will do what works for them.  Our local Medicare
> carrier has been pretty good at sticking with the IG, but the local Blues
> here came out with a 2" thick binder for the companion guide documents.
> Many of the segments are in absolute contradiction to the IG.  When I
> called them on this, the response was simple...."follow the companion
> guide, or else the claims will get bounced on the front end edits.  And
> since the front end edits are done before the claim enters our processing
> system, if its noncompliant, it doesn't get into the system."  (Legal
> speak for "we never got your claim".)
>
> Never bothered to complain to CMS, as I need to get paid; not worry about
> the IG implementation.  For most small providers, the 800 lb gorrilla
> leads the way.
>
> The software just winds up with a lot more conditional branches that it
> should have, but the cash flow continues.  We've been sending X12 claims
> to Medicare and Blue Shield now since April, with no problems so far
> (knock on wood).
>
> Jeff Pinsky
> PTFILE Systems


---
The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The
discussions on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual
participants, and do not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of
Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If you wish to receive an official opinion, post your
question to the WEDI SNIP Issues Database at http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.
These listservs should not be used for commercial marketing purposes or
discussion of specific vendor products and services.  They also are not intended
to be used as a forum for personal disagreements or unprofessional communication
at any time.

You are currently subscribed to wedi-testing as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe from this list, go to the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at
http://subscribe.wedi.org or send a blank email to
[EMAIL PROTECTED]
 If you need to unsubscribe but your current email address is not the same as
 the address subscribed to the list, please use the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form
 at http://subscribe.wedi.org










This e-mail, including attachments, may include confidential and/or 
proprietary information, and may be used only by the person or entity to 
which it is addressed. If the reader of this e-mail is not the intended 
recipient or his or her authorized agent, the reader is hereby notified 
that any dissemination, distribution or copying of this e-mail is 
prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error, please notify the 
sender by replying to this message and delete this e-mail immediately.


---
The WEDI SNIP listserv to which you are subscribed is not moderated. The discussions 
on this listserv therefore represent the views of the individual participants, and do 
not necessarily represent the views of the WEDI Board of Directors nor WEDI SNIP. If 
you wish to receive an official opinion, post your question to the WEDI SNIP Issues 
Database at http://snip.wedi.org/tracking/.   These listservs should not be used for 
commercial marketing purposes or discussion of specific vendor products and services.  
They also are not intended to be used as a forum for personal disagreements or 
unprofessional communication at any time.

You are currently subscribed to wedi-testing as: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
To unsubscribe from this list, go to the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at 
http://subscribe.wedi.org or send a blank email to [EMAIL PROTECTED]
If you need to unsubscribe but your current email address is not the same as the 
address subscribed to the list, please use the Subscribe/Unsubscribe form at 
http://subscribe.wedi.org

Reply via email to