Henry Schein Practice Solutions (HSPS) has reviewed the HIPAA privacy, security
and electronic data interchange regulations and continues to evaluate related additional
legal requirements to ensure timely compliance of HSPS's systems and procedures
with applicable HIPAA requirements, including those added as a result of the HITECH
Act enacted in 2009.
Additionally, we will continue to provide our customers with significant product
and service upgrades and enhancements, many of which will assist our customers in
their own HIPAA compliance efforts. Please note that the various HIPAA standards
require our customers to address internal policies and procedures and change their
practices in ways that extend beyond the scope of our products and services; it
is not possible for us or any other software package to make customers "HIPAA-compliant."
Click here to learn more about how HIPAA 5010 compliance
affects your practice and what you can do to prepare.
While we will continue to provide our customers with product upgrades and information
that will assist customers in their individual HIPAA compliance plans, we also strongly
encourage our customers to become familiar with all HIPAA requirements and how these
impact their own respective practices.
HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10
As part of the HIPAA EDI rules, healthcare providers must be fully compliant with
the new HIPAA 5010 electronic transaction requirements by March 31, 2012. The 5010
update also accommodates the introduction of the ICD-10 code set, which must be
used for medical diagnosis and inpatient procedures beginning October 1, 2013. While
that deadline may seem far away, it’s quickly becoming a concern for providers who
are hearing more and more about the update.
The HIPAA 5010 update replaces the existing 4010/4010A requirements for EDI. In
the 5010 update, many of the changes occur in the electronic transmission of data,
and will be unnoticeable to our customers. The most obvious impact of the 5010 requirements
will be in the format and codes for submission of electronic claims to payors. Once
the changes take effect, each claim will require information that was not included
previously.
We will continue to keep you posted with the latest information regarding product
and service updates related to HIPAA 5010 and ICD-10 implementation.
Your current claim submission process is compliant and you do not need to make any immediate changes as a result of 5010. As insurance carriers begin to require additional claim information as part of the HIPAA 5010 standards, you may be required to perform a software update. You will be notified in advance if an update is required.
Privacy and Security
HSPS has reviewed and implemented policies and processes based on the privacy and
security standards outlined in HIPAA and HITECH, including regulations issued by
the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and HSPS believes it is compliant
with those of the standards and rules for which compliance is currently required.
Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) Services
Federal regulations adopted under HIPAA also establish "Standard Transactions
and Code Sets" for the sharing of certain data by electronic means between
and among health care providers and third party payors, such as health insurers.
These standards for data elements, code sets and formats are to be used to conduct
certain electronic health care transactions. Those transactions that are covered
by these EDI rules are defined by HHS, such as claims submitted by a health care
provider to patients’ health insurers via electronic media, and other routine transmissions
of health care data to carry out certain financial or administrative activities
related to health care (such as eligibility inquiries).
HSPS has undertaken an extensive review and inventory of its products and services
to verify those that are within the scope of the HIPAA EDI definitions. We have
developed policies and procedures so that HSPS is capable of conducting covered
electronic transactions with respect to our eServices products using the mandated
standards and codes.