Most Medical Practices Need Software Updates for Move to HIPPA 5010

Most medical practices will need software updates to transition to HIPAA 5010 data-transmission standards, according to a survey by the Medical Group Management Association, Healthcare IT News reports.

If health care providers do not successfully implement HIPAA 5010 transaction sets by Jan. 1, 2012, they could face disruptions in claims processing and other administrative issues (Monegain, Healthcare IT News, 6/16).

Key Findings

MGMA found that:

• 50.3% of survey respondents said their existing practice management software would require an update before they could use HIPAA 5010 transaction sets;
• 29% said their current practice management software would allow them to use the HIPAA 5010 standards; and
• 4.5% said their software would need to be replaced before they could use the HIPAA 5010 standards.

In addition, more than 30% of respondents said they have not had any communication with their practice management software vendors about upgrades or testing for the HIPAA 5010 transaction sets (Sullivan, Government Health IT, 6/16).

MGMA also surveyed its members about their progress in implementing HIPAA 5010 standards. The survey found that:

• 45.9% of respondents said their practice has at least partially completed implementation of the HIPAA 5010 standards;
• 45.2% said their practice has not started implementation; and
• 2% said their practice has completed implementation (Conn, Modern Physician, 6/16).

Implications

William Jessee, president and CEO of MGMA, said the survey findings suggest that “a significant number of practices have been forced to wait for their practice management system software vendors to make the required modifications before they can begin to test with clearinghouses and health plans.”

Jessee recommended that CMS “aggressively augment its outreach to both physician practices and practice management system vendors” to bolster implementation of the HIPAA 5010 standards. He also called for the government to implement a “contingency plan to avoid widespread cash flow disruption in the industry” in case numerous health care providers fail to meet the HIPAA 5010 compliance deadline (Healthcare IT News, 6/16).

Source: iHealthBeat