November 3, 1999 HIPAA Announcement:

HHS Publishes Important Upcoming HIPAA Dates

12/30/04

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published its Semiannual Regulatory Agenda in the Federal Register on Monday, December 13. The semiannual publication is an inventory of all rulemaking actions under development or review by HHS in the foreseeable future.

These are important HIPAA implementation dates providers should know.

HHS plans to issue notices of proposed rulemaking on the following dates for the following items:

January 2005, Claims Attachment standard
February 2005, HIPAA enforcement
April 2005, National Health Plan Identifiers
June 2005, Transactions and code sets standards (modifications and revisions)
August 2006, electronic Medicare claims submission

1. Claims Attachment Standard: HHS expects to issue a notice of proposed rule making (NPRM) next month for the Claims Attachment Standard. Both the Claims Attachment Standard and the Standard Unique National Health Plan Identifier were expected last month.

2. Health Plan Identification: The National Health Plan ID NPRM's estimated publication date is now April of 2005.

3. Revisions to HIPAA Code Sets: In June, 2005, the Department plans to publish NPRMs modifying and revising the HIPAA electronic transactions and code sets standards, and proposing replacements for specific code sets.

Note: This rule will propose revisions to the adopted transactions and code sets standards detailed in regulations published by HHS on August 17, 2000, and February 20, 2003. The Secretary intends to propose any replacements for specific code sets.

4. Requirements for Electronic Medicare Claims Submission: A final rule implementing the requirements for electronic Medicare claims submission is scheduled for publication in August of 2006.

5. HIPAA Enforcement: The projected publication date of a NPRM for HIPAA enforcement is February 2005.

Go to the December 13 Federal Register for more information or go to the following URL:

http://www.access.gpo.gov/su_docs/fedreg/a041213c.html