January 2003 • Volume 9 • Number
1 |
Ten questions to ask your vendor
If you haven't been
contacted about HIPAA compliance by your practice management software vendor,
it's time to become proactive, said David C. Kibbe, M.D., the AAFP director of
health information technology. There are specific questions physicians should
ask their vendors, including:
- Will the version of your software product that I currently use be
able to send all payers a claim/encounter form in the HIPAA standard X12 837
content and data format?
- Have your transactions been tested and certified by a third party
as offering a HIPAA-compliant software modification?
- When will you be ready to upgrade my system? (Ask for a specific
date.)
- Will the modifications require a new version of my PMS software?
- Will I require any new hardware to support these modifications?
- When will you send me a schedule of testing that includes internal
testing, testing with a clearinghouse, testing with Medicare and testing with
commercial payers?
- Can I upgrade to the various standards incrementally?
- Do you offer a product or service that will assist me in
completing my "gap analysis" (strategies for moving my practice from the paper
1500 form to the 837 electronic version)?
- Will you providing training for this modification?
- What will it cost?
Kibbe suggested that physicians request written responses from their
vendors.
FP Report is published by the
AAFP News Department.
Copyright © 2003 by
American Academy of Family Physicians.
