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Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (ESMD)

Which HIHs Offer esMD Gateway Services to Providers?

What is a Health Information Handler (HIH)?
Any organization that handles health information on behalf of a provider is an HIH. Many providers already use HIHs to submit claims, provide electronic health record systems, etc. These HIHs are often called claim clearinghouses, release of information vendors, Health Information Exchanges, Electronic Health Record vendors, etc. Some HIHs are beginning to offer Electronic Submission of Medical Documentation (esMD) gateway services as well.

Which HIHs have been CERTIFIED by CMS to offer esMD gateway services to providers?

HIH NameHas been certified by CMS to offer the following esMD services
Send Response to Medical Documentation Request in PDFSend PMD Prior Authorization Request in PDFReceive PMD Prior Authorization Review Results MessageSend Structured Progress NotesSend Structured Orders
ApeniMedJanuary 2012  01/07/13+++
CobiusFebruary 2012  Not Offered+++
CranewareAugust 2012  Not Offered+++
eSolutionsJanuary 201202/21/13+++
Health IT PlusNovember 201101/07/13+++
HealthPortSeptember 2011Not Offered+++
IODJanuary 2012Not Offered+++
IVANSSeptember 201101/08/13+++
LOISSNovember 2012Not Offered+++
Medical Electronic Attachment (MEA)January 201201/07/13+++
MediConnectAugust 2012Not Offered+++
MedFORCE TechnologiesDecember 201202/04/13+++
MROOctober 2011Not Offered+++
Proficient HealthMay 201201/29/13+++
RISARCSeptember 201101/07/13+++
Rycan Technologies Inc.July 2012Not Offered+++
SSIMay 2012Not Offered+++
SunCoast RHIO Inc.October 2012Spring 2013+++

Green  = Service offered by HIH 
Yellow  = Service not offered by HIH at this time
Grey + = CMS Gateway does not have capability at this time

The following HIHs have begun to build esMD gateways and plan to offer esMD services in the future:

  • AT&T
  • Bluemark
  • Dorado
  • Episode Alert
  • H&H Medical Records, LLC
  • MDclick
  • One Source Document Management
  • Quadax
  • UPMC
  • Verisma Systems

The following HIHs have entered into a partnering agreement with a certified HIH, and have started to market esMD gateway services to providers with their own brand name:

  • CM Information Specialists
  • ECC Technologies' RAPID Network
  • Fastrack Healthcare Systems
  • ScanSTAT Technologies
  • The Wellington Group, LLC
  • Wolters Kluwer Law & Business

Can other HIHs offer esMD gateway services to providers?
Any health information handler (HIH) that meets the following criteria can participate in the esMD program:

  1. The HIH has a contract with one or more Medicare providers to handle their health information,
  2. One or more of the HIH's providers have received a medical documentation request from a Medicare Recovery Auditor or MAC,
  3. The HIH has built or is building a CONNECT-compatible gateway, 
  4. The HIH is willing to sign (or has signed) a Data Use and Reciprocal Service Agreement (DURSA) with the Office of the National Coordinator (ONC) for Health IT, and
  5. The HIH is willing to obtain an identity certificate and communicate that certificate key to the CMS esMD gateway contractor and ONC contractor.

HIHs that would like to become an esMD HIH, click the link at the left called "Information for Prospective HIHs".

Does CMS pay esMD HIHs?
No.

Does CMS contract with esMD HIHs?
No.

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