In January, the WHA Information Center (WHAIC) announced that the current custom, text file data submission format used by hospitals and ambulatory surgery centers (ASCs) to submit data required by Chapter 153 of the Wisconsin Statutes would be retired and that hospitals and ASCs would be required to transition to the national, industry standard HIPAA claim format known as the ANSI 837. Hospitals and ASCs are required to begin submitting production data using the new 837 format in May 2018, for dates of service starting January 1, 2018.
Since the announcement of this change, many hospitals and ASCs have been diligently working with WHAIC, their internal staff, and/or their electronic health record vendors to make the required changes. Many have already begun side-by-side testing to ensure their new file format is compliant. WHAIC has held training sessions throughout the state and has facilitated several calls with hospitals, ASCs and vendors to ensure the appropriate changes are made.
If your hospital and/or ASC has not already started making these required changes, please do not delay. WHAIC remains ready to help ensure all hospitals and ASCs are not only compliant with the new file format, but also compliant with the statutorily required reporting.
WHAIC’s last round of formal, in-person training on the new format will take place throughout September. Since the material is new to everyone, we strongly encourage your hospital/ASC send your data submission staff and your technical staff or vendor representative to ensure they are adequately prepared to make the required changes to your files. To register for this training, current data submitters (WIpop users) register here. Staff, vendors, and others not currently submitting data via WIpop, register here.