On Friday the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a model compliance plan that healthcare entities can use to receive a one-year extension for complying with the electronic health care transactions rule.
Part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996, the electronic transaction rule was designed to ensure consistency in healthcare transactions throughout the industry. Last year Congress granted a one-year compliance extension for entities that were originally required to comply by October 16, 2002.
In order to extend the compliance deadline to October 2003, however, covered entities must submit a compliance plan which details their preparations for compliance. The CMS model, now available at www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa, will assist healthcare entities in applying for the extension. It can be completed and submitted electronically any time before October 15, 2002, and CMS will provide confirmation of receipt.
Small health plans with less than $5 million in receipts already have until October 2003 to comply and do not need to submit a compliance plan, CMS said.
By AuntMinnie.com staff writersApril 1, 2002
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HIPAA extension becomes law, January 10, 2002
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