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SEC. 1174. Timetables for adoption of standards

 Title[ Title II\Subtitle F\Sec. 262                                               Contents

Sec. 1174. (a) Initial <<NOTE: 42 USC 1320d-3.>>  Standards.--The

Secretary shall carry out section 1173 not later than 18 months after

the date of the enactment of the Health Insurance Portability and

Accountability Act of 1996, except that standards relating to claims

attachments shall be adopted not later than 30 months after such date.

    ``(b) Additions and Modifications to Standards.--

            ``(1) In general.--Except as provided in paragraph (2), the

        Secretary shall review the standards adopted under section 1173,

        and shall adopt modifications to the standards (including

        additions to the standards), as determined appropriate, but not

        more frequently than once every 12 months. Any addition or

        modification to a standard shall be completed in a manner which

        minimizes the disruption and cost of compliance.

            ``(2) Special rules.--

                    ``(A) First 12-month period.--Except with respect to

                additions and modifications to code sets under

                subparagraph (B), the Secretary may not adopt any

                modification to a standard adopted under this part

                during the 12-month period beginning on the date the

                standard is initially adopted, unless the Secretary

                determines that the modification is necessary in order

                to permit compliance with the standard.

                    ``(B) Additions and modifications to code sets.--

                          ``(i) In general.--The Secretary shall ensure

                      that procedures exist for the routine maintenance,

                      testing, enhancement, and expansion of code sets.

                          ``(ii) Additional rules.--If a code set is

                      modified under this subsection, the modified code

                      set shall include instructions on how data

                      elements of health information that were encoded

                      prior to the modification may be converted or

                      translated so as to preserve the informational

                      value of the data elements that existed before the

                      modification. Any modification to a code set under

                      this subsection shall be implemented in a manner

                      that minimizes the disruption and cost of

                      complying with such modification.

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