Ohio HIPAA Conference Invites Local Healthcare Community to Unique Education Opportunity; Columbus Conference to Welcome Top Industry Experts.

Business Editors, Health & Medical Writers

DUBLIN, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 24, 2002

CMHC Systems (www.cmhcsystems.com), a leading provider of information technology and business solutions to the healthcare and human services industries, is pleased to invite all local Columbus and Ohio healthcare professionals to attend HIPAA Road Map III - How Do I Get There From Here?, January 13-15, 2003, at the Hilton at Easton in Columbus, Ohio, designed exclusively to educate the healthcare industry about the far-reaching impacts of HIPAA legislation - and to dispel an alarming false opinion that non-compliance may not have serious consequences.

"Regardless of where you are in the compliance and implementation process, this conference will prove valuable," says Mike Hursyz, Chief Information Officer at Child and Family Services in Buffalo, New York. "I am amazed at the number of organizations who failed to file an extension request for implementation of the standard transactions and data code sets and I am concerned for my colleagues who are interpreting a decreased emphasis on enforcement and penalty assessment as permission to halt or slow their compliance programs. Much of the industry is well-along in their implementation efforts and ready to begin doing business electronically. Providers who are not equally prepared will soon feel the effects in terms of delayed or denied claims processing - not to mention the grave potential for consumer dissatisfaction and complaint. HIPAA Road Map has sessions specifically designed to address each of these issues and more. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this excellent educational opportunity."

Debra L. Wentz, Chief Executive Officer of the New Jersey Association of Mental Health Agencies (NJAMHA), agrees. "I commend CMHC Systems for taking the unprecedented step of providing such a valuable learning opportunity for not only their customers but the entire industry. It is highly unusual to find a vendor this committed to the welfare and survival of an industry well beyond their own constituency. The tools and resources available through the HIPAA Road Map conference are priceless and the in-depth agenda covers all aspects of HIPAA." Says Wentz, "I've recommended conference attendance to the membership of NJAMHA and to the New Jersey healthcare industry in general."

The HIPAA Road Map expert agenda is packed with professional perspectives from top industry names including the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, the American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), the American Public Health Association (APHA), Claredi Corporation, Foresight Corporation, President Bush's New Freedom Commission on Mental Health, PriceWaterhouseCoopers, and many more. For a complete listing of presenters and a look at the exciting agenda, visit the conference web site at www.hipaaroadmap.com.

Featuring 25 enlightening sessions, presentations, panel discussions, and networking and resource-sharing opportunities, the HIPAA Road Map includes presentations and workshops on Standard Transactions and Code Sets implementation, testing and certification, development of Privacy and Security policies and procedures, budgeting, training, accreditation impacts, and much more. The conference will emphasize the direct correlation of the use and deployment of technology to not only meet HIPAA requirements, but to also serve as 21st century necessities for the survival of healthcare organizations. Several providers and other "covered entities" will share their experiences, challenges, and successes while implementing their own HIPAA compliance programs. And DHHS Secretary Tommy Thompson has been invited to deliver the keynote address. No other national HIPAA conference offers this complete of an agenda.

"Though the software we provide is designed specifically for behavioral health, public health, and other human services providers, the HIPAA Road Map agenda is widely applicable. The impacts of HIPAA will be felt across the entire healthcare industry regardless of discipline or function. We are pleased to offer this conference as a resource to the industry and welcome all healthcare professionals as participants," says CMHC Systems' marketing director and conference organizer, Karen Chrestay.

HIPAA Road Map offers valuable sponsorship opportunities at several different participation levels ranging from exhibitor to gold sponsor. All HIPAA Road Map attendees will receive a free subscription to Behavioral Healthcare Tomorrow, compliments of Manisses Communications, and a free subscription to One - The Integration of Healthcare & Technology, compliments of CMHC Systems. And all attendees are eligible to win one of three HIPAA Toolkit doorprizes that will be awarded during the closing session of the conference. The contents and estimated value of the Toolkits continues to grow as speakers, sponsors, and exhibitors generously contribute valuable HIPAA compliance tools and resources and numerous other useful items. Last year's prizes were valued at more than $3,500 each.

CMHC Systems, a technology pioneer since 1978 - and recent recipient of the Business First top Columbus software developer award - continues to grow and lead the industry as one of the most active and aware software developers in business today. A total solutions provider, CMHC Systems offers the only fully integrated management information system available for human services organizations as well as premiere HIPAA education resources, top quality network security services, professional business management consultation, e-learning opportunities, an award-winning national corporate magazine, and more.

For more information about HIPAA Road Map, visit www.hipaaroadmap.com, email [e-mail], call us at 1-888-848-8111, fax to 614-799-3188, or write to: CMHC Systems, 570 Metro Place North, Dublin, Ohio, 43017.