New office of HIPAA Standards posts complaint form

Healthcare Financial Management, Dec, 2003

The newly created CMS Office of HIPAA Standards (OHS) has posted a form and instructions to submit written complaints regarding the HIPAA transactions and code sets rule that went into effect on October 16. In its instructions, OHS "strongly encourage[s]" entities with Internet access to use the on line administrative simplification enforcement tool rather than the paper-based form.

An October 15 CMS announcement stated that the new OHS will establish and operate enforcement processes and develop regulations for the HIPAA standards that are CMS's responsibility, including transactions and code sets, security, and identifiers for providers, insurers, and employers. CMS will continue to enforce the insurance portability requirements of HIPAA, and the HHS Office for Civil Rights will enforce the HIPAA privacy standards.

To download the instructions and claim form, go to www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2/enforcement/ paper_complaint_form.pdf.