BAS is transmitting health plan data in HIPAA 5010 format to providers who will accept the transmission feeds with the updated data requirements. HIPAA 5010 requires health plans and providers to use new standards to electronically conduct certain health care transactions, including claims, remittance and eligibility processing. The HIPAA 5010 transaction standards are intended to increase uniformity among health plans, enhance security, and streamline claim and reimbursement transactions. BAS has been aggressive in driving the conversion to the new, secure format and was frequently one of the first file carriers successfully implementing the conversion. During the conversion process, BAS completed extensive internal testing and external testing with the carriers to ensure there was no participant disruption.
Last week, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ Office of E-Health Standards and Services (OESS) delayed enforcement of HIPAA 5010 transactions. Recognizing that many health care providers and vendors do not have their technology in place to transmit data according to HIPAA's new security requirements, OESS announced that it will not begin enforcement until June 30, 2012. Despite the delay in enforcement, BAS is already using the updated transmission standards. BAS systems are tried and tested to avoid any disruption in plan/carrier communications.
