All A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z EDI Translator A software tool for accepting an EDI transmission and converting the data to another format, or for converting a non­EDI data file into an EDI format for transmission. Effective Date This is the date that a final rule is effective. This is usually 60 days after it is published in the Federal Register. Related Terms: Federal Register Electronic Commerce (EC) The exchange of business information by electronic means. Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) This usually means X12 and similar variable-length formats for the electronic exchange of structured data. It is sometimes used more broadly to mean any electronic exchange of formatted data. Related Terms: Association for Electronic Health Care Transactions; Medicare Remittance Advice Remark Codes; Value-Added Network; X-12 Electronic Healthcare Network Accreditation Commission (EHNAC) An organization that accredits health care clearinghouses. Electronic Media (1) Electronic storage media including memory devices in computers (hard drives) and any removable/transportable digital memory medium, such as magnetic tape or disk, optical disk, or digital memory medium; or (2) Transmission media used to exchange information already in electronic memory medium. Tranmission media include, for example, the Internet (wide­open), Extranet (using Internet technology to link a business with information only accessible to collaborating parties), leased lines, dial­up lines, private networks, and those transmissions that are physically moved from one location to another using magnetic tape, disk, or compact disk media. Certain transmissions, including of paper, via facsimile, and of voice, via telephone, are not considered to be transmissions via electronic media because the information being exchanged did not exist in electronic form before the transmission. [45 CFR 160.103] Electronic Media Claims (EMC) This term usually refers to a flat file format used to transmit or transport claims, such as the 192­byte UB­92 Institutional EMC format and the 320­byte Professional EMC NSF. Related Terms: National Standard Format ; UB-92 Electronic Remittance Advice (ERA) Any of several electronic formats for explaining the payments of health care claims. Employers The rule requires that group health plans cannot disclose protected health information about employees to employers except as it relates to providing and paying for health care. Employers will also be required to create firewalls between company officials who work on company health plans and those involved in personnel or employment related matters. Encryption Encryption means the use of an algorithmic process to transform data into a form in which there is a low probability of assigning meaning without use of a confidential process or key. Explanation of Medicare Benefits (EOMB) A notice that is sent to you after the doctor files a claim for Part B services under the Original Medicare Plan. This notice explains what the provider billed for, the Medicare-approved amount, how much Medicare paid, and what you must pay. This is being replaced by the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN), which sums up all the services (Part A and B) that were given over a certain period of time, generally monthly. Related Terms: Medicare Benefits Notice; Medicare Summary Notice Explanation of Member Benefits (EOMB)