The version modification to the HIPAA Administrative Simplification transaction standards becomes effective Tuesday, March 17, 2009. Here are several critical things to know, drawn directly from the final rule published in the Federal Register on January 16, 2009. The final rule is available for download on the HIPAA.com site.
Effective Date: The effective date [March 17, 2009] is the date that the policies set forth in this final rule take effect, and new policies are considered to be officially adopted. [74 Federal Register 3302]
Compliance Date: On January 1, 2012, all covered entities will have reached Level 2 compliance, and must be fully compliant in using Versions 5010 and D.0 exclusively. While we [U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS)] have authorized contingency plans in the past, we do not intend to do so in this case, as such an action would likely adversely impact ICD-10 implementation activities [effective date, also March 17, 2009; compliance date, October 1, 2013]. HIPAA gives us [HHS] authority to invoke civil money penalties against covered entities who do not comply with the standards, and we have been encouraged by industry to use our authority on a wider scale. [74 Federal Register 3303]