OIG releases Y2K survey results

The Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General (OIG) in Washington, DC, also released a report giving the results of its nationwide year 2000 (Y2K) readiness survey.

The OIG surveyed 5,000 providers (hospitals, nursing facilities, home health agencies, durable medical equipment providers, and physicians) to see how prepared they were to meet the Y2K transition and its potential computer problems. The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) in Englewood, CO, had the chance to review the report before it was disseminated.

Here are some results of the survey:

About 50% of respondents reported that their billing and financial systems were compliant. More than 90% of hospitals that said they were not compliant expected to be by Dec. 31. 50% to 63% of providers report that they are now able to enter an eight-digit date on electronic claims. Less than 66% of providers had replaced or renovated their computer systems for Y2K compliance. Less than one-third of the responding providers indicated that their biomedical equipment was currently Y2K compliant. Less than 60% of respondents state that their Medicare contractor had sent them Y2K information or offered to provide assistance. Only 10% to 20% of providers had re-quested Y2K-ready software from their Medicare contractor.