decisionhealth Newsletters, Answer Books - 2006 Issue 3 (March)
Program_Memos / 2001 / AB-01-89
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Article Overview
This memorandum explains HCFA’s management of Medicare standard system software changes and the process for scheduling, approving, and documenting follow-up releases. It is relevant to Medicare system maintainers, contractors, and data centers that support standard systems and related testing activities. The article covers release timing, problem priority classifications, routine file maintenance, testing expectations, and the information required for approval requests.
Why This Topic Matters
Organizations responsible for Medicare standard system operations need this guidance to align software changes with HCFA review and release schedules, and to understand what documentation is expected when requesting approval for follow-up changes.
Article Sections
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Change Request 1216: Future Software Releases
Overview of the memorandum’s purpose and the scope of HCFA’s release-management instructions for Medicare standard systems.
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I. Control of System Changes
General scheduling and approval framework for quarterly and follow-up software releases across the affected standard systems.
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II. Problem Priority Classifications for Follow-Up Releases
HCFA’s priority categories for reported system problems and the related release-handling framework, including broad examples of issue types.
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III. Routine File Maintenance/Updates
Routine maintenance activities that do not require special pre-approval or documentation under the memorandum.
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IV. Testing Prior to Installation of HCFA Approved Follow-Up Releases
Testing expectations referenced by HCFA for standard system maintainers and related Medicare organization testing responsibilities.
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V. Information Required for Requesting HCFA Approval
The minimum categories of information that must accompany a request for approval to implement a follow-up release.
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VI. HCFA System Maintenance Leads
Contact and routing information for the HCFA maintenance leads responsible for the listed standard systems.
What You Will Learn
- How HCFA organizes and reviews Medicare standard system software changes
- Which broad categories of system problems are treated differently for follow-up releases
- What types of routine maintenance activities are addressed separately from special approvals
- What testing and documentation topics are covered in the memorandum
- Which organizational contacts are listed for standard system maintenance coordination
Who Should Read This
- Medicare standard system maintainers
- Medicare contractors
- Data centers supporting Medicare systems
- HCFA/HHS program operations staff
- Healthcare IT and release-management personnel
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