Collection of medical information about the past, present, and future of a patient that resides in a centralized electronic system and is interoperable. This system receives, stores, transmits, retrieves, and links data for giving health care services from many information systems such as laboratory, radiology, pathology, and financial services. See also electronic medical record (EMR) .

Organization that tests transactions for consistency with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) requirements and that accredits health care clearinghouses.

Transmitting, receiving, storing, and forwarding of text, voice messages, attachments, or images by computer from one person to another or from one person to a defined group or all users on a system.

Under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), mode of electronic transmission that includes Internet (online mode—wide open), extranet or private network using Internet technology to link business parties, leased phone or dial-up phone lines including fax modems (speaking over phone is not considered an electronic transmission), and transmissions that are physically moved from one location to another using magnetic tape, disk, or compact disk media.

Phrase that refers to a flat file format used to transmit or transport insurance claims, eliminating mailroom processing and manual data entry such as the 192-byte UB-92 Institutional EMC format and the 320-byte Professional EMC National Standard Format (NSF). In federal programs, payment is released when time requirements are satisfied, resulting in a faster cash flow turnaround for providers.

Process that large employers can use to complete their requirements for supplying IRS/SSA/HCFA (Internal Revenue Service/Social Security Administration/Health Care Financing Administration) data match information electronically.

Electronic depository or linked access to patient databases that contains patient care information that can be sent within only one health care organization. This allows health care entities to share data, improve quality of medical care, and quicken insurance claim processing. Also known as computer-based patient record (CPR), online medical record, paperless patient chart , and computerized patient record (CPR) . See also electronic health record (EHR) .

Insurance company (payer) automatically posts a payment to the medical practice management system after transmitting an automatic deposit into the medical practice’s bank account.

Handling of electronic medical records according to legal, regulatory, and operational requirements.

Online transaction or electronic summarized statement about the status of an insurance claim with explanation of the payment for one or more beneficiaries. It is equivalent to the paper summarized statement called a Medicare remittance notice (MRN) . It is often referred to as ANSI 835 or Health Care Claim Payment/Advice (835) . Also called electronic remittance notice (ERN) .