Administrative Simplification Act
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Health Care Administrative Simplification
The Health Care Administrative Simplification Act (ASA) of 1994 was enacted to bring about greater standardization and electronic exchange of health care administrative transactions, to reduce administrative costs and burden.
As part of the Act, the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH)'s Center for Health Information Policy and Transformation (CHIPT) develops and administers rules for the standard, electronic exchange of health care administrative transactions, pursuant to Minnesota Statutes, section 62J.536. These rules are commonly referred to as the “Minnesota Uniform Companion Guides.” This work is being undertaken in consultation with a large, voluntary stakeholder organization, the Minnesota Administrative Uniformity Committee (AUC). In addition, CHIPT is also undertaking or assisting with other MDH health care reform and administrative simplification efforts.
Health care is a more than $35 billion per year enterprise in Minnesota, generating millions of administrative transactions between health care providers, payers, intermediaries, and vendors. The Health Care Administrative Simplification Act (ASA) of 1994, Minnesota Statutes, sections 62J.50 – 62J.61, was passed to bring about greater standardization of health care administrative transactions and more electronic exchange of administrative data, to reduce administrative costs and burden.
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) Health Policy Division, in collaboration with advisory and standards-setting organizations, is implementing the ASA as part of ongoing efforts to streamline and simplify health care administration.
See also the fact sheet, Minnesota's Health Care Administrative Simplification Initiative (PDF)
News
Limited Exception From Minnesota’s Requirements for the Standard, Electronic Exchange of Eligibility (270/271) Transactions for Payers Not Subject to HIPAA is Continued Through June 30, 2025
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) published a notice in Minnesota State Register announcing a statutorily authorized limited exception from Minnesota’s requirements for the standard, electronic exchange of Eligibility (270/271) transactions for group purchasers (payers) not subject to federal HIPAA transactions and code sets regulations (PDF) is continued through June 30, 2025.
This exception applies only to exchanges of the ASCX12/005010X279A1 Health Care Eligibility Benefit Inquiry and Response (270/271) transaction with health care group purchasers (payers) that are not subject to federal HIPAA transactions and code sets regulations, and only through June 30, 2025. The exception applies to workers’ compensation, auto, and property and casualty carriers.
More information regarding the limited exception is available in the July 15, 2024 Minnesota State Register (Vol. 49, No. 03).
The limited, one-year exception is reviewed annually. The next annual review of this exception to rules adopted pursuant to Minnesota Statutes §62J.536 is scheduled for April-May 2025, to determine whether the exception will be continued through June 2026.
MDH Adopts Revised 270-271 Eligibility MUCG as Final Rule
The Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) published a notice in the March 4, 2024 Minnesota State Register (Vol. 48, No. 36) announcing the following revised Minnesota Uniform Companion Guides (MUCG) has been adopted into rule:
The rule was developed in consultation with the Minnesota Administrative Uniformity Committee (AUC) in compliance with Minnesota Statutes section 62J.536. The statute requires health care providers, group purchasers (payers) and health care clearinghouses to exchange certain health care business transactions electronically in compliance with the revised and adopted MUCG. It becomes effective April 4.
More information regarding the rule is available on the Minnesota State Register webpage.
Archive of news and notices posted on the ASA website.