Gateway EDI & HIPAA

Gateway EDI has been closely monitoring the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) of 1996 since its inception.

We are assimilating HIPAA regulations into our corporate culture, making them one more element of our customer focus. That means we are constantly looking at HIPAA based on our customers' needs:

• What does it mean for our clients?
• How can we help with education and implementation?
• What barriers can we remove to help our clients with HIPAA?

Gateway EDI is incorporating HIPAA's Transactions and Code Sets, Privacy, and Security standards into our daily operations.

We are also making every attempt to heighten the health care industry's awareness of the benefits and implications of this legislation. Gateway EDI is aware we are but one player and that achieving overall success of HIPAA compliance will require an entire health care industry team effort. Therefore, Gateway EDI is active in the health care industry. Some of our recent HIPAA initiatives include the following:

• A Gateway EDI manager is co-chair of Administrative Simplification Print Image Research Effort (ASPIRE), one of the projects under the Association for Electronic Health Care Transactions.
• Gateway EDI is represented on the Board of Directors for Missouri Strategic National Implementation Process (MO SNIP).
• Gateway EDI is a member of the Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI).
• A Certified health care Compliance Officer leads our HIPAA implementation efforts.
• Gateway EDI has provided several articles on HIPAA, which have appeared in the St. Louis Metropolitan Medical Society's newsletter, in the American Health Information Management Association's In Confidence, and in newsletters of the Health Care Financial Management Association, St. Louis Medical Group Management Association, and Greater Kansas City Medical Manager Association.
• Gateway EDI staff members have provided educational presentations on HIPAA to numerous groups:
  • Greater Kansas City Medical Managers Association
  • St. Louis Medical Group Management Association
  • New Mexico Medical Group Management Association
  • Health Care Compliance Resources
  • Children's Mercy Health Network
  • Several practice management software vendors' users' meetings
  • Several hospital and provider-sponsored meetings

Industry education and support of HIPAA is just one element of our efforts. The list below outlines some of our other HIPAA activities:

• Learning and understanding the complexities of the legislation so we can help our own staff and clients understand it fully.
• Working closely, as discussed, with others in the health care industry toward HIPAA success.
• Committing publicly to support of HIPAA.
• Implementing HIPAA regulations by deadline through a wide range of operational changes and service changes.
• Supporting our clients with education and customer service related to HIPAA.