Guidance on Requests for Exceptions from Standards to Permit Testing of Proposed Modifications

Guidance on Requests for Exceptions from Standards to Permit Testing of Proposed Modifications

Administrative Simplification Guidance: Exception Process

The Division of National Standards (DNS) on behalf of the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announces the issuance of a guidance letter to clarify the process for requesting and conducting an exception to the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) transaction and code set standards.

HHS encourages innovation in the development and implementation of standards that promote Administrative Simplification. The criteria for requesting and conducting an exception to the use of adopted standards and testing of modifications are specified at 45 C.F.R. 162.940.

This guidance document discusses the five stages of the exception process:

1. Request for the exception;
2. Basis for granting an exception;
3. The Secretary’s decision on exception;
4. Organization’s report on test results; and
5. Requests to extend the exception.
   

For more information, read the full Guidance Letter on the Administrative Simplification website.