Emdeon introduces HIPAA Simplified to help guide healthcare industry's transition to new standards

Emdeon Inc. (NYSE: EM), a leading provider of healthcare revenue and payment cycle management solutions, today announced the availability of HIPAA Simplified, a one-stop online resource for guiding the healthcare industry's transition to HIPAA 5010, NCPDP D.0 and ICD-10 standards. The Web site is located at www.hipaasimplified.com.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) published rules that require updated versions of the standards for electronic transactions under the authority of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). These updated standards (Versions 5010 and D.0) will replace the current standards (Versions 4010/4010A1 and 5.1) and are designed to promote greater efficiency in electronic transactions. Compliance with the new HIPAA 5010 and NCPDP D.0 standards is required by January 12, 2012. The ICD-10 code sets are required in transactions as of October 1, 2013.

Emdeon has launched HIPAA Simplified as a resource to help guide the healthcare industry through the transition to the new standards. The Web site will feature technical gap analysis documentation, simplified business-level topics, trading partner transition strategy information, frequently asked questions, testing tools and resource pages that are specific to each of the affected healthcare industry segments.

In December 2009, Emdeon senior vice president of corporate strategy and government services, Miriam Paramore, testified before the National Committee on Vital and Health Statistics. During her testimony, Paramore said, "Emdeon is committed to supporting our customers and leading the industry in compliance and adoption of the new standards and code sets." She continued, "Our goal is to be ready in advance of the government mandated deadlines to ensure a smooth and successful transition."

HIPAA Simplified will be a communications focal point as Emdeon helps its customers adopt the 5010 and D.0 standards prior to 2012. Because the conversion will affect transaction sets for Emdeon's entire network of physicians, hospitals, payers, pharmacies, dentists and channel partners, Emdeon is working diligently to help its customers seamlessly meet the new requirements for HIPAA 5010, NCPDP D.0 and ICD-10.