HIPAA Update: CMS to Physicians: Get Compliant to Keep Payment Steady
Since last October, ACR/ACRa members who submit claims electronically to Medicare had to comply with HIPAA transaction and code sets regulations. The rules require physicians and other “covered entities” to adopt universal data formats in their billing and coding operations. Starting July 1, 2004 electronic claims that do not comply with the HIPAA rules will not be paid as promptly as compliant claims. Compliant claims can be paid as early as 14 days after receipt, while non-compliant claims won’t be paid earlier than 27 days after Medicare receives them. This is intended to spur full compliance by all physicians.
