The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has recently announced a final rule that seeks to modernize administrative elements of the industry - “establishing national standards for the electronic exchange of clinical documentation used to support health claims.”
The goal of rule is to save the health care industry about $781 million annually as outdated methods for submitting claims-related documentation are phased out in favor of electronic methods.
The final rule also introduces secure standards for collecting electronic signatures.
HME News states: CMS says the rule is effective on May 26, 2026 (60 days after publication in the Federal Register), and covered entities must comply by May 26, 2028 (24 months after the effective date).
The standards set out in this new rule apply to HIPAA-covered entities. This includes health plans, healthcare providers, and healthcare clearinghouses.
- View the Rule Fact Sheet Here: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/fact-sheets/administrative-simplification-adoption-standards-health-care-claims-attachments-transactions
- View the Final Rule Here: https://www.federalregister.gov/
