=============================================================================
Run Date: MAY 29, 2003                     Designation: EAS*1*32
Package : EAS - ENROLLMENT APPLICATION Priority: Mandatory
Version : 1        SEQ #25                      Status: Released
                  Compliance Date: JUN 29, 2003
=============================================================================


Subject: REMOVING APPOINTMENT BLOCKING FUNCTIONALITY 

Category: 
  - Routine

Description: 
============

 NOTE: This patch is being released as part of a HOST file distribution.  
 The primary patch for this distribution is SD*5.3*296.
  
 This patch addresses two of the changes requested in an Executive 
 Decision Memo sponsored by the VHA Chief Business Office (CBO) regarding 
 Veteran Financial Assessments. In response to Policy Board (NLB) comment 
 on the VHA Veterans Equitable Resource Allocation (VERA) process, the CBO 
 requests the removal of:
  
 (1) the current restriction that blocks transmission of outpatient 
 encounters (ACRP) and inpatient episodes of care (PTF) to the National 
 Patient Care Database (NPCD) if a veteran's updated financial assessment 
 (Means Test) information is not complete, and (2) the restriction that 
 blocks the ability to schedule future appointments for veterans whose 
 financial assessments need updating.
  
 Current policy establishes a requirement to block transmission of 
 outpatient encounters (ACRP) and inpatient episodes of care (PTF) to the 
 National Patient Care Database if the patient's current Means Test status 
 equals "Required."  This leads to under-reported workload and inaccurate 
 information in national databases.  Although this change will remove the 
 restriction, site personnel are encouraged to have the patient complete 
 Means and Copay Tests when applicable.
  
 The provision of veterans' clinical care should be separated from the 
 administrative requirement placed on staff to obtain updated financial 
 data from the veteran.  Changing the policies and implementing these 
 software changes will lead to rapid improvements in correcting the 
 under-reporting of workload to Austin, decrease the risk of veterans not 
 receiving clinically-required future appointments, maximize revenue 
 collection and improve the accuracy of corporate-level data.
  
 This patch provides a post installation routine that will update the text 
 of the EAS Means Test letters to reflect the change in business rules 
 outlined above, i.e. sections referring to "prevent us from being able to 
 schedule you for any future care" will be replaced with "cause your 
 priority for enrollment in the VA health care system to lapse".  This 
 routine will automatically update the 60, 30, and 0-day letters.
  
  
 This patch addresses the following E3R(s):
 ------------------------------------------
 There are no E3Rs associated with this patch
  
  
 This patch addresses the following NOIS message(s):
 ---------------------------------------------------
 There are no NOIS messages associated with this patch
  
  
 Test Sites:
 -----------
 Boston VAMC
 El Paso VAMC
 Madison VAMC
  
  
 Files Required for Installation and Implementation
 ==================================================
 This patch is included as a transport global in the primary patch 
 SD*5.3*296 HFS Distribution.  See patch SD*5.3*296 for instructions on 
 downloading the KIDS HFS file.
  
  
        ================INSTALLATION INSTRUCTIONS =================
  
   1.  This patch is being released as part of an HFS KIDS build.  The 
       primary patch for this build is SD*5.3*296.  Please see the patch
       installation instructions for patch SD*5.3*296 to install this
       build.
  
   2.   COMPONENTS SENT WITH PATCH 
        ------------------------
  
  
 ROUTINE SUMMARY:
 ================
 The following is a list of the routine(s) included in this patch.  The
 second line of each of these routine(s) will look like:
  
     <tab>;;1.0;ENROLLMENT APPLICATION SYSTEM;**[patch list]**;MAR 15,2001
  
                            CHECK^XTSUMBLD results
 Routine name      Before Patch          After Patch         Patch List
 ============      ============          ===========         ==========
 EAS132PT                   N/A             12745203             32
  
  
         Total number of routines - 1 ****

Routine Information:
====================

Routine Name:
  - EAS132PT

 This is a new routine.

Routine Checksum:

=============================================================================
User Information:                               
Entered By  : KOPECKY,STEPHEN C             Date Entered : APR 16, 2003
Completed By: RUDINGER,NANCY L             Date Completed: MAY 29, 2003
Released By : KOVACH,STUART                 Date Released : MAY 29, 2003
=============================================================================


Packman Mail Message:
=====================

No routines included