HIPAA Certification: HHS Proposes Rules & Extends Deadline
The Affordable Care Act (ACA) requires health plans to certify to the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that their data and information systems comply with HIPAA’s electronic transaction standards and operating rules. The ACA specified an initial certification deadline of Dec. 31, 2013, for the following transactions: eligibility for a health plan; health care claim status; and health care electronic funds transfers (EFT) and remittance advice.
On Jan. 2, 2014, HHS issued a proposed rule to provide guidance on the initial certification process and penalties for noncompliance. The proposed rule extends the initial certification deadline to Dec. 31, 2015, although small health plans may have additional time to comply.
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