Computer Billing Standard

Physicians will have to use the “ANSI ASC X12N” electronic transmission format whenever they do computerized billing. The theory is that by using a single format (ANSI is the American National Standards Institute) instead of any of the 400 or so different ones kicking around today that a health plan might mandate, life will be simpler for physicians, and practice costs will decline precipitously. Medical practices with annual receipts over $5 million must be ANSI-compliant by October 2002. Those under that ceiling have until October 2003.