2013-03-22

Medicare HETS 270/271 Submitters:

CMS is planning a HETS 270/271 system release in the 2nd Quarter of 2013 that will add and/or modify data elements to both the ASCX12 Version 5010A1 270 request and 271 response files used by the HIPAA Eligibility Transaction System (HETS) 270/271.  No content changes to the 270 request are absolutely required for this release but this is a significant release that includes a change in that HETS 270/271 will now require submission of a HCPCS (Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System) code instead of Service Type codes in the 270 request to receive Preventive service data in the 271 response.  Please review the online release documentation and prepare as necessary.  The release documentation can be found online at:

Release Summary: /Research-Statistics-Data-and-Systems/CMS-Information-Technology/HETSHelp/Downloads/R2013Q200HETS270271ReleaseSummary.pdf  (version 1-1).

An updated HETS 270/271 Companion Guide that includes 2013  Q2 changes will be distributed as soon as possible.  CMS will notify all submitters when this document is available.

The release is tentatively scheduled to be installed in June, 2013.  The HETS 270/271 application will be unavailable during the system release.  CMS will distribute more specific release information (including estimated outage times) in May, 2013.