Frequently Asked Questions

What is EDI?

Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) is the structured electronic exchange of data between organizations. The benefits of EDI for organizations include lowered costs, reduced errors and increased productivity.

What is HIPAA?

The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requires the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services to adopt standards for covered entities (health plans, health care clearinghouses, certain health care providers) to use when they electronically conduct certain health care administrative transactions, such as claims, remittance, eligibility, claims status requests and responses, and more.

Learn more at http://aspe.dhhs.gov/admnsimp

What is ASC X12?

ASC X12 is the U.S. standards body for the cross-industry development, maintenance and publication of electronic data exchange standards. WPC works with the Data Interchange Standards Association (DISA) as publisher for the ASC X12 volunteer committee members.

Learn more at http://www.x12.org

What is metadata?

Literally, data about data, among other attributes, metadata can refer to the naming of database fields. With tens of thousands of potential data entries for patient records, disease codes, and claims and payment transactions, ensuring metadata consistency—and reconciling differences between databases—is the goal of data standards, and the singular expertise of WPC.

Does WPC support platforms other than BizTalk?

Health care data standards can be utilized with any number of enterprise software systems. While BizTalk 2009 provides a high degree of compatibility with health care applications, WPC will help you plan solutions that are right for your organization based on current systems, budgets, and technology resources.

Can WPC help us manage our revenue cycle?

While WPC is not a billing service—nor do we specialize in custom billing software applications—we do help you integrate your systems to eliminate data-related errors and inconsistencies. This allows for faster processing of claims and payments, and effective employment of business intelligence tools to provide an accurate, up-to-the-minute picture of your revenue cycle.

How long does it take to implement data standards?

This depends on your current systems and business goals. Many organizations are choosing to use HIPAA mandates as an opportunity to bring systems in-house and link disparate databases and workflows. WPC can help you develop a program management plan that addresses priorities and the complexities associated with these improvements, whether they require months or years.

What is meant by the term “legacy data”?

Legacy data refers to information stored in any number of databases or formats historically used by your organization. These records must continue to be accessed and converted into newer formats for ongoing transaction processing and patient / subscriber services.

Does WPC offer any proprietary software?

WPC has developed numerous proprietary adapters and accelerators that match your legacy data with standard metadata fields and syntax. Our EDI Tools minimize the time and expense required for custom application development, configuration and upgrades. Talk to our services representative to see which tools are right for your organization.

Does WPC offer training?

Training is considered a critical part of any implementation program, and WPC can provide comprehensive training for your IT team and the administrative personnel who handle day-to-day data processing. We have standard training modules that cover the basics of health care data standards, or we can develop custom training programs specific to your organization’s systems, workflow and personnel.

What health care experience does WPC have?

For more than fifteen years, WPC has focused primarily on development of data standards and technology to meet the complex challenges of the health care industry. Our consulting experience includes large, multi-facility, multi-state providers and health plans. Our team is intimately familiar with health care business processes and transactions and knows how to effectively guide change within organizations of any size.

What is WPC’s affiliation with Microsoft?

WPC is a nationally managed Microsoft partner. Microsoft is also a WPC client as they have hired WPC technical resources to assist in guiding the product direction of several new health care platforms.