President Clinton signing into law requirements that hospitals andother businesses share information to help solve the Y2K problem, The Washington StateHealth Association (WSHA) also recommends steps for compatibility for insurance billing.According to Tom Byron, chief information officer of the WSHA, The Washington StateUniform Billing Committee (WSUBC) has adopted multiple resolutions concerningelectronic submission of Uniform Billing (UB-92) claims such as, (1) use of the MedicalFlat File, Version 5.0, (2) all plans should be ready to accept the recommended format byOctober 1, 1998, (3) providers should submit claims in the recommended format byJanuary 1, 1999, (4) all plans should allow for a period of October 1, 1998 to March 31,1999 for providers to submit claims in either the recommended format or the currentformat, and (5) electronic formats not Y2K compliant should cease beginning April 1,1999. If the laws enacted by the U.S. Congress and the president , and therecommendations made by the WSUBC are followed, the Y2K problem will likely havelittle or no affect on the clerical areas of hospitals.In addition to the patient care and clerical concerns facing hospitals with respect tothe Y2K problem, there is one other pressing concern for hospitals. Utilities are essentialto the everyday life most people are accustomed to. If the electricity goes out at home,most people just burn candles and wait, without much worry, for the lights to come backon. However, losing utility service in a hospital could be much more than aninconvenience.Imagine having to go to the hospital on December 31, 1999. It could be more of aproblem than you think. All hospitals rely on electricity, gas, and water for their everydayoperations. A spokesperson for Major Hospital states that all methods have beenexhausted to comply with state and federal guidelines and suggestions regarding the Y2Kproblem. The suggestions include, but are not limited to, obt...
