DHS HIPAA NEWS

Previous HIPAA News - November 2002


News from CMS…..

Provider HIPAA Readiness Checklist Available Online

You can now use the Provider HIPAA Readiness Checklist (PDF, 131KB) to get started moving toward compliance with the Electronic Transactions and Code Set Requirements. The checklist is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa.

CMS Reviewing Behavioral Health Care Code Sets

CMS held a conference call with States on January 22nd. States voiced concerns regarding the adoption of code sets and modifiers for use in billing behavioral health care services. CMS indicates that they are currently reviewing about 50 proposed code sets and will be making a recommendation to the Health Care Financing Administration Common Procedure Coding System (HCPCS) panel. CMS will be publishing their recommendation in March/April 2003.

Final Security Rule Delayed

The Federal Register of Friday, December 27, made no mention of the final security rule or the transactions modifications which were due to be published on that date. As of the 28th, the security rule had not been submitted to the Office of Management and Budget, the White House panel that reviews federal regulations for budgetary impact. OMB review generally takes a minimum of two weeks, longer on massive rulemakings like the security piece of HIPAA.

Key HIPAA Administrative Simplification Compliance Deadlines

Date	Deadline
October 15, 2002	Deadline to submit a compliance extension form for Electronic Health Care Transactions and Code Sets.
October 16, 2002	Electronic Health Care Transactions and Code Sets - all covered entities except those who filed for an extension and are not a small health plan.
April 14, 2003	Privacy - all covered entities except small health plans.
April 16, 2003	Electronic Health Care Transactions and Code Sets - all covered entities must have started software and systems testing.
October 16, 2003	Electronic Health Care Transactions and Code Sets - all covered entities who filed for an extension and small health plans.
April 14, 2004	Privacy - small health plans.
July 30, 2004	Employer Identifier Standard - all covered entities except small health plans.
August 1, 2005	Employer Identifier Standard - small health plans.