Workgroup For Electronic Data Interchange - WEDI 1993 Report Highlights

WEDI 1993 Report Highlights

WEDI reconvened in 1993 to resolve remaining implementation obstacles and to:

• strengthen the understanding of and commitment to EDI among the health care industry, policymakers, and consumers by: developing a targeted plan for using industry resources to educate key audiences on EDI, encouraging participation in demonstration projects that prove EDI benefits and cost savings, and expanding membership to reflect more broadly the key constituencies affected by EDI

• work for enactment of preemptive federal confidentiality protection for individually identifiable health care information in an electronic environment

• develop a strategy to facilitate quick, industry-wide transition to EDI, including universal identifiers for patients, providers, and payors; health identification cards; coordination of benefits in electronic environments; and implementation guidance for data standards

• work with appropriate parties to ensure the health care industry can meet WEDI's target of universal adherence to uniform data content by 1996

• provide additional data to the industry on the cost benefits of EDI, using WEDI demonstration projects as a primary source

• monitor the industry's progress toward the use of data standards and EDI

• provide basic telecommunications requirements and promote WEDI's goal of clearinghouse accreditation by 1994

• serve as a resource to work cooperatively with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and state governments to coordinate state and national efforts on administrative simplification.