EDI Vendor Testing Timeline for Upcoming Releases

The IHCP has identified the following four types of system modifications that require prior communications with the EDI vendors.

Each enhancement is carefully reviewed to determine what affect it will have on vendor software.  These modifications are described below.

System modifications with significant impact on the software

Enhancements that require significant software modifications will have the following timelines built into the project plan:

  • Twelve weeks prior to the release date - The description of the upcoming system enhancements and the release dates will be posted to What's New for EDI Vendors.  The IHCP expects that this notification allows for the appropriate project planning time for the vendors.
  • Ten weeks prior to the release date - IHCP Upcoming Companion Guide Changes will be made available.  The IHCP expects that this notification allows for appropriate software construction time for the vendors.  The IHCP support help desk for EDI will notify the vendors of the availability of the IHCP Upcoming Companion Guide Changes and the estimated start date for testing.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of four weeks to construct the needed modifications.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of four weeks to conduct testing.  Vendors choosing not to test risk the possibility of failing in production at their own cost.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to upgrade the software at their client sites.

System modifications with little or no impact on the software

Enhancements that require minimum to no software modifications will have the following timelines built into the project plan:

  • Eight weeks prior to the release date - The description of the upcoming system enhancements and the release dates will be posted to What's New for EDI Vendors.  The IHCP expects that this notification allows for the appropriate project planning time for the vendors.
  • Six weeks prior to the release date - The IHCP Upcoming Companion Guide Changes, when applicable, will be made available.  The IHCP expects that this notification allows for the appropriate software construction time for the vendors.  The IHCP support help desk for EDI will notify the vendors of the availability of the IHCP Upcoming Companion Guide Changes and the estimated start date for testing.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to construct the modifications, if needed.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to conduct testing.  Vendors choosing not to test risk the possibility of failing in production at their own cost.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to upgrade the software at their client sites, if needed.

Correction upgrades

For correction upgrades, depending on the impact to the software and the business, the lead-time for notifications may vary.  However, all corrections upgrades and companion guide corrections will be communicated as quickly as possible.

Upgrades to the IHCP translator (Sybase)

Quarterly upgrades will be scheduled (upgrade will stay quarterly behind Sybase upgrade cycle).  Sybase provides a text document with corrections incorporated into the upgrade.  The following timelines are built into the project plan:

  • Six weeks prior to the release date - Sybase's text document with the corrections to the software and the release dates will be posted to What's New for EDI Vendors.  The IHCP expects that this notification allows for the appropriate project planning time for the vendors.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to construct any necessary modifications.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to conduct testing.  Vendors who choose not to test risk the possibility of failing compliance in production at their own cost.
  • Vendors will be given a minimum of two weeks to upgrade the software at their client sites.