| (November 21, 2001)
Legislation in the U.S. House to delay the compliance date of the HIPAA final
transactions and codes sets rule by one year has received support from
influential House members. In addition, a new push in the Senate soon could
result in action on similar legislation. The existing compliance date is Oct.
16, 2002.
Rep. David Hobson (R-Ohio),
the sponsor of legislation that became the HIPAA administrative simplification
provisions, sponsors the new delay bill, H.R. 3323. Four leaders of the House
Ways & Means Committee--who on Oct. 3 wrote a letter to all House members
strongly criticizing HIPAA delay efforts--are co-sponsors of Hobsons bill. The
leaders are Reps. William Thomas (R-Calif.), committee chair; Charles Rangel
(D-N.Y.), ranking member; Nancy Johnson (R-Conn.), health subcommittee chair;
and Pete Stark (D-Calif.), health subcommittee vice-chair. The bill was
referred to the Ways & Means and Energy & Commerce committees.
Hobson’s bill delays the
transactions rule compliance date by one year, to Oct. 16, 2003, for covered
entities that submit a plan to the Department of Health and Human Services
detailing how they will come into compliance by the new date. Covered entities
that do not submit a plan and are not compliant by Oct. 16, 2002, would face
exclusion from the Medicare program, under the bill. It is unclear if HHS would
accept such a regulatory burden and some sources indicate the bill could be
stripped of the plan language, becoming a straight delay for all covered
entities.
Senate staffers expected the
chamber to act before Thanksgiving on legislation extending the transactions
rule compliance date by one year, but the bills were not considered. The bills,
similar to each other, are S. 1588 and S. 1684. Congress returns after the
Thanksgiving recess on Nov. 27.
The American Hospital
Association does not support the House or Senate bills and is “actively
considering” whether to oppose their movement through Congress, according
to a spokesperson. |
