From the Final Rule adopting ICD-10-CM and ICD-10-PCS published in the
Federal Register on 1/16/2009: page 3355, column 3.
"We have stated publicly, and reiterate once again, that we will not
consider implementing a new HIPAA standard for claims attachment
transactions until after the compliance date for ICD-10."
This is somewhat at odds with the statements elsewhere in the same rule
and the Final Rule for updated transactions, also published on
1/16/2009, that state,
"We appreciate and will consider the commenters' concerns for not
wanting to have to implement the electronic health care claims
attachment standards at the same time as Versions 5010, D.0 and 3.0,
and ICD-10."

The intriguing part of the above occurs with a historical reference to
the original HIPAA statute. Section 1174(a) called for adopting of
claims attachments standards not later than 30 months after enactment of
the law. August, 1996, plus 30 months, equals February, 1999 -- ten
years ago as I write this ... almost to the month.

Dave Feinberg
Rensis Corporation
206-617-1717
DAFeinberg@...