1 / 12

National HIPAA Implementation and Compliance Update

This update provides information on the progress of HIPAA implementation and compliance efforts, focuses on key problems such as awareness, extensions, and interoperability, and outlines solutions and future plans for outreach and assistance.

eferguson
Download Presentation

National HIPAA Implementation and Compliance Update

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. National HIPAA Implementation and Compliance Update Karen Trudel CMS HIPAA Project Staff ktrudel@cms.hhs.gov

  2. What We Need to Accomplish in the Next 12 Months • Submit Compliance Extension Plans • Complete compliance activities • Test and implement transactions and code sets

  3. Problem #1: Awareness • Many covered entities are still unaware of HIPAA • CMS focus groups show awareness especially low among: • Small providers • Rural providers

  4. Solution: Outreach • Messages: • HIPAA is important to you • You need to submit an extension plan by 10/15/02 • There are resources available to help with compliance • CMS Regional Offices conducting at least one conference per state by September 30

  5. Problem #2: Extensions • Many covered entities still haven’t filed for extensions • CMS has received around 60,000 plans to date, most submitted electronically • Why so few: • “Last Minute Filer” syndrome • Concerns about being “held to” plan as submitted • Questions about who is/is not a covered entity

  6. Solution: “Just Do It!” • Filing does not constitute a legal admission of covered entity status • Plans are “best estimates” , and are not binding • Electronic filing is fast and easy (and free)

  7. Problem #3: Interoperability • Slight variations in how the transaction standard specifications are interpreted can prevent trading partners from being able to process each others’ transactions • Subtleties may be difficult to identify • Need for agreement on correct interpretation • In significant volume, could be overwhelming

  8. Solution: Testing • Start testing with trading partners ASAP…this is how problems are identified • WEDI/SNIP and its regional affiliates have a key role to play: • Identifying common interoperability issues • Developing and communicating solutions • Certification services and SDOs also have a role

  9. CMS Focus on Outreach: Next 12 Months • Focus shifts from awareness to assistance • Develop and disseminate implementation white papers, technical assistance materials (such as compliance checklists) • Extensive partnering with other organizations to distribute these materials more widely • Regional Offices will continue local outreach efforts

  10. Also on the Drawing Board: • Regional conferences for vendors, to share best practices, etc. • Pilot testing a “HIPAA How-to” training program targeted to small providers • Significant Website improvements

  11. Conclusions: • October 16, 2003 will be here before we know it! • So will the target testing date of April 2003 • Need to communicate and work cooperatively have never been greater

  12. Important Web Sites • CMS HIPAA Website • www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa • Implementation Guides • www.wpc-edi.com/hipaa • Implementation - SNIP at WEDI • www.wedi.org • Standards Change Requests • www.hipaa-dsmo.org • DHHS Administrative Simplification - • aspe.hhs.gov/admnsimp

More Related