CMS to Accept Noncompliant Claims after HIPAA Deadline

CMS said today that it will continue to accept electronic transactions in existing non-HIPAA formats after the Oct. 16 HIPAA transaction compliance deadline in order to prevent a massive slowdown in Medicare payment processing.

"Implementing this contingency plan moves us toward the dual goal of achieving HIPAA compliance while not disturbing providers' cash flow and operations, so that beneficiaries can continue to get the healthcare services that they need," CMS Administrator Thomas Scully says in a written statement.

For more information, see http://www.cms.gov/media/press/release.asp?Counter=870