NATIONAL COMMITTEE ON VITAL AND HEALTH STATISTICS

First Annual Report to the Congress on the Implementation of the Administrative Simplification Provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act

February 3, 1998

Table of Contents

Executive Summary

I. Introduction

A. Background

B. Purpose of This Report

C. Content of the Report

D. Requirements of the Statute

  1. Requirements for Standards
  2. Timetables
  3. Expanded Responsibilities for the NCVHS

II. Implementation Process

A. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Implementation Strategy

  1. HHS Data Council
  2. Health Data Standards Committee
  3. Implementation Teams

B. Guiding Principles

C. Private Sector Consultation

D. NCVHS Hearings

E. NCVHS Liaison with the Department of Health and Human Services

F. NCVHS Recommendations to the HHS

  1. Unique Identifier for Health Care Providers
  2. Administrative Transaction Messages
  3. Transaction Data Content
  4. Security Standards
  5. Privacy
  6. The Unique Identifier for Health Plans
  7. The Unique Health Identifier for Individuals

III. Progress to Date

A. Identifiers

B. Transaction Standards and Data Content

C. Security

D. Claims Attachments

E. Privacy

F. Implementation Plan and Communication Strategy

IV. Special Privacy and Security Concerns

A. Federal Privacy Legislation

B. Linkage of the Individual Identifier to Privacy Protections

C. Anti-Discrimination Measures are Needed

D. Security

V. Implementation Issues

A. Identifying and Resolving Standards Implementation Issues

B. Identifying Need for New Standards

C. Measurement of Standards Implementation Status

D. Strengthening the National Health Information Infrastructure to Improve Health Care Quality and Access and Reduce Costs

VI. Conclusion

Complete Report: