The Administrative Simplification Compliance Act, or ASCA, requires entities that requested a one-year extension, to start testing their systems no later than April 16, 2003.  This requirement relates to your own internal testing, not testing with Medicare. 

Empire Medicare Services (EMS) will continue to accept claims sent in non-4010 formats regardless of whether you had submitted an ASCA extension form to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services by October 16, 2002.

Submitters of electronic (EDI) claims who have successfully tested with the 837 claim version 4010 do not need to be retested on V4010A1, unless you wish to retest.

EMS has tested ANSI ASC X12N transaction V4010 with many practice management software vendors.  A listing of those vendors certified for ANSI ASC X12N transaction version 4010, is posted on our Web site at http://www.empiremedicare.com/hipa a/vendors/ny.htm. If your vendor has already been certified, please contact them to determine their timeline for installing the updated software in your office.

Software vendors are responsible for testing the HIPAA compliant versions of their software.  It is not necessary for each of their clients/submitters to test the software.

If your software vendor would like to schedule a test, they can complete the attached request form and return it to us via fax at 212-476-7110. 

PC-ACE Pro 32 is a Windows-based software program written to comply with the ANSI ASC X12N 837 4010 format, which is the current HIPAA standard format for electronic medical claims.  Please be aware that Pro 32 will be upgraded again in May 2003, to comply with the ANSI ASC X12N 837 addenda version of 4010 (version 4010A1).

If you are a current PC-ACE user, the Pro 32 software will be sent to you in May 2003.

If you are a current Pro 32 version 4.35 user, you will need to upgrade to the ANSI ASC X12N 837 addenda version of 4010 (V4010A1) of the software.  This upgrade will be available in May 2003 and will be automatically shipped to you.  In either case, you must be using Pro 32 in V4010A1 by October 16, 2003.

If you have additional questions, please contact our EMC Marketing staff at 212-476-7934.

By October 16, 2003, each EDI submitter must submit all electronic claims, electronic claim status inquiries, and electronic eligibility inquiries in compliance with the requirements in V4010A1 of the appropriate transactions.