As part of the upcoming transition to the 5010 transaction standards (which will replace the existing version of the X-12 standards for all HIPAA covered entities) CMS has organized “National 5010 Testing Days.” CMS has explained that the testing days will encourage collaboration between providers and the Medicare Administrative Contractors (MACs) by allowing providers to “to come together and test compliance efforts that are already underway with the added benefit of real-time help desk support and direct and immediate access to MACs.”

The first testing day was held June 15, 2011, but there is another upcoming on August 24, 2011. The mandatory compliance deadline for all covered entities to adopt and implement the 5010 standards remains January 1, 2012. Additional information on the transition and the testing days can be found on CMS’s Transaction Standards website, or can be requested from a provider’s own MAC.