AAAAI - News and Updates

September 28, 2009
HIPAA - Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) prompted new Federal regulations which require physicians to ensure they are protecting the privacy and security of patients' medical information and using a standard format when submitting electronic transactions, such as submitting claims to payers.

Payers who conduct business electronically need to be aware of two significant changes concerning standard transactions and code sets. On January 16, 2009, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced two new compliance deadlines. First, the new version of HIPAA standards known as 5010 will become effective on January 1, 2012. Second, ICD-10 codes will replace ICD-9 diagnosis codes for use in outpatient and inpatient settings and will replace ICD-9 procedure codes for inpatient settings beginning October 1, 2013. CPT codes will remain the codes used by physicians for reporting procedures in outpatient settings.

Physicians Click & Complain About Health Plan Hassles and HIPAA Transactions
Tell the AMA about problems you've encountered in having your claims and other submissions accepted by payers.

HIPAA Plain and Simple: A Compliance Guide for Health Care Professionals
Simplifies the complex HIPAA regulations for those in the medical office who have direct patient contact or are responsible for safeguarding patient information.

Privacy Standards
New regulations effective September 23, 2009 require all physicians who are covered by HIPAA to notify patients if there are breaches of security involving unsecured patient information. These requirements apply in addition to any notification obligations imposed by state law. These requirements also supplement the obligations imposed by the HIPAA Privacy and Security Rules.