Official Final Rules -- including formal Federal Regulations -- adopting
updated HIPAA transactions and code sets were published today,
1/16/2009, in the Federal Register. They may be obtained at the
following links:
Transactions: X12 and NCPDP
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-740.pdf
Code Sets: ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS
http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/2009/pdf/E9-743.pdf

The initial compliance date for the updated X12 transactions (005010) is
3/17/2009 [potentially a mistake], and the sunset date for current X12
transactions (004010 and 004010A1) is 12/31/2011.
The compliance date for use of ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS and sunset date
for ceasing use of ICD-9-CM volumes 1,2 and 3 is 10/01/2013.

An interesting newly added provision of the transactions rule is 45 CFR
162.925(a)(6):
"During the period from March 17, 2009, through December 31, 2011, a
health plan may not delay or reject a standard transaction, or
attempt to adversely affect the other entity or the transaction, on
the basis that it does not comply with another adopted standard for
the same period."


Copies of X12's Type 3 Technical Reports (TR3s) incorporated by
reference into the transactions Final Rule may be obtained via the
following link:
http://store.X12.org .

As CMS is no longer subsidizing X12 for these documents, it will cost
you directly to have them downloaded or shipped. Note, though, that
there is a single price for a package of all nine of the adopted version
005010 TR3s, and significant discounts are available to X12 members.

The first page of an online X12 membership application, including a dues
schedule, is located at
https://www.disa.org/apps/memberservices/x12/X12MembershipSection1.cfm


A summary of the changes between the current X12 version 004010 and
004010A1 Implementation Guides and the newly adopted version 005010 TR3s
is available at
http://www.x12.org/x12org/subcommittees/X12N/N0221_WEDI-X12-V5010_file.pdf.
Webinars about the adopted X12 version 005010 TR3s can be arranged via
http://www.x12.org/webinars/5010.cfm.
Topics covered in these webinars include:
+ the business justification for solutions included in version 005010
+ examples of how the implementation of version 005010 transactions
addresses industry-requested requirements
+ specific answers to some of the questions from public comments to
the Notice of Proposed Rule Making (NPRM)
+ details of changes across all affected transactions, including the
explanatory, technical and structural modifications
+ details of how version 005010 is improved compared to version
004010 and 004010A1
+ insight from original subject matter experts.
These webinars will be given live during February, and will be available
for on-demand playback thereafter. Again note that X12 members receive
a discount on webinar fees.


The final step in this HIPAA transactions and code sets adoption process
is clearing the Congressional Review period on or about 3/16/2009.
After that, if Congress takes no action -- the expected outcome -- the
regulations go into effect.

Dave Feinberg
Rensis Corporation [A Consulting Company]
206-617-1717
DAFeinberg@...
Author of "Understanding HIPAA Communications"