Nexus EMR profile for Coverage -- the payor context for billing and the demo dataset. First pass: the Ontario-GP shape (public plan keyed by the patient's health-card number, payor as a logical Organization reference). Private/extended plans and coordination of benefits are deliberately unmodelled. Closed to SMART apps pending an exposure decision.
Elements / Details
Every element this profile touches, with its full definition. Element names in the tables link here.
Financial instrument which may be used to reimburse or pay for health care products and services. Includes both insurance and self-payment.
Comments
The Coverage resource contains the insurance card level information, which is customary to provide on claims and other communications between providers and insurers.
The metadata about the resource. This is content that is maintained by the infrastructure. Changes to the content might not always be associated with version changes to the resource.
A set of rules under which this content was created
Definition
A reference to a set of rules that were followed when the resource was constructed, and which must be understood when processing the content. Often, this is a reference to an implementation guide that defines the special rules along with other profiles etc.
Comments
Asserting this rule set restricts the content to be only understood by a limited set of trading partners. This inherently limits the usefulness of the data in the long term. However, the existing health eco-system is highly fractured, and not yet ready to define, collect, and exchange data in a generally computable sense. Wherever possible, implementers and/or specification writers should avoid using this element. Often, when used, the URL is a reference to an implementation guide that defines these special rules as part of it's narrative along with other profiles, value sets, etc.
Cardinality
0..1
Type
uri
Modifier
yes — This element is labeled as a modifier because the implicit rules may provide additional knowledge about the resource that modifies it's meaning or interpretation
The base language in which the resource is written.
Comments
Language is provided to support indexing and accessibility (typically, services such as text to speech use the language tag). The html language tag in the narrative applies to the narrative. The language tag on the resource may be used to specify the language of other presentations generated from the data in the resource. Not all the content has to be in the base language. The Resource.language should not be assumed to apply to the narrative automatically. If a language is specified, it should it also be specified on the div element in the html (see rules in HTML5 for information about the relationship between xml:lang and the html lang attribute).
Text summary of the resource, for human interpretation
Definition
A human-readable narrative that contains a summary of the resource and can be used to represent the content of the resource to a human. The narrative need not encode all the structured data, but is required to contain sufficient detail to make it "clinically safe" for a human to just read the narrative. Resource definitions may define what content should be represented in the narrative to ensure clinical safety.
Comments
Contained resources do not have narrative. Resources that are not contained SHOULD have a narrative. In some cases, a resource may only have text with little or no additional discrete data (as long as all minOccurs=1 elements are satisfied). This may be necessary for data from legacy systems where information is captured as a "text blob" or where text is additionally entered raw or narrated and encoded information is added later.
These resources do not have an independent existence apart from the resource that contains them - they cannot be identified independently, and nor can they have their own independent transaction scope.
Comments
This should never be done when the content can be identified properly, as once identification is lost, it is extremely difficult (and context dependent) to restore it again. Contained resources may have profiles and tags In their meta elements, but SHALL NOT have security labels.
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the resource and that modifies the understanding of the element that contains it and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer is allowed to define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.
Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).
Requirements
Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Cardinality
0..*
Type
Extension
Modifier
yes — Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the resource that contains them
Allows coverages to be distinguished and referenced.
Comments
The main (and possibly only) identifier for the coverage - often referred to as a Member Id, Certificate number, Personal Health Number or Case ID. May be constructed as the concatenation of the Coverage.SubscriberID and the Coverage.dependant.
Need to track the status of the resource as 'draft' resources may undergo further edits while 'active' resources are immutable and may only have their status changed to 'cancelled'.
Comments
This element is labeled as a modifier because the status contains the code entered-in-error that marks the coverage as not currently valid.
Cardinality
1..1
Type
code
Must Support
yes
Modifier
yes — This element is labelled as a modifier because it is a status element that contains status entered-in-error which means that the resource should not be treated as valid
Kind of coverage (public provincial plan, private, ...)
Definition
The type of coverage: social program, medical plan, accident coverage (workers compensation, auto), group health or payment by an individual or organization.
Requirements
The order of application of coverages is dependent on the types of coverage.
Comments
First pass leaves the vocabulary open: OHIP rides as text + a payor identifier; a plan-type value set is deferred until a second plan actually flows. Where this code was mapped from a source system's own vocabulary, carry the raw coding alongside the mapped one, flagged userSelected = true. See Carrying the raw code.
The party who has signed-up for or 'owns' the contractual relationship to the policy or to whom the benefit of the policy for services rendered to them or their family is due.
Requirements
This is the party who is entitled to the benfits under the policy.
Comments
May be self or a parent in the case of dependants.
The identifier the PLAN knows the covered person by. For Ontario's public plan this is the health card number; the same value appears on Patient.identifier under the canadian-phn-systems machinery -- this element carries the value the payor bills against, it does not replace the Patient identifier slice.
Requirements
The insurer requires this identifier on correspondance and claims (digital and otherwise).
Coverage validity period, when the source records one
Definition
Time period during which the coverage is in force. A missing start date indicates the start date isn't known, a missing end date means the coverage is continuing to be in force.
Requirements
Some insurers require the submission of the coverage term.
Who pays -- typically a LOGICAL Organization reference (e.g. OHIP)
Definition
The payor organization. A logical reference (Reference.identifier naming the plan authority, display carrying the human-readable name) is the expected first-pass shape -- provincial payors are not resources the EMR maintains.
Requirements
Need to identify the issuer to target for claim processing and for coordination of benefit processing.
Comments
May provide multiple identifiers such as insurance company identifier or business identifier (BIN number).
For selfpay it may provide multiple paying persons and/or organizations.
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
Definition
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.
Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).
Requirements
Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Cardinality
0..*
Type
Extension
Modifier
yes — Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
The type of classification for which an insurer-specific class label or number and optional name is provided, for example may be used to identify a class of coverage or employer group, Policy, Plan.
Requirements
The insurer issued label for a specific health card value.
The order of applicability of this coverage relative to other coverages which are currently in force. Note, there may be gaps in the numbering and this does not imply primary, secondary etc. as the specific positioning of coverages depends upon the episode of care.
The insurer-specific identifier for the insurer-defined network of providers to which the beneficiary may seek treatment which will be covered at the 'in-network' rate, otherwise 'out of network' terms and conditions apply.
Requirements
Used in referral for treatment and in claims processing.
A suite of codes indicating the cost category and associated amount which have been detailed in the policy and may have been included on the health card.
Requirements
Required by providers to manage financial transaction with the patient.
Comments
For example by knowing the patient visit co-pay, the provider can collect the amount prior to undertaking treatment.
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
Definition
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.
Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).
Requirements
Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Cardinality
0..*
Type
Extension
Modifier
yes — Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Extensions that cannot be ignored even if unrecognized
Definition
May be used to represent additional information that is not part of the basic definition of the element and that modifies the understanding of the element in which it is contained and/or the understanding of the containing element's descendants. Usually modifier elements provide negation or qualification. To make the use of extensions safe and manageable, there is a strict set of governance applied to the definition and use of extensions. Though any implementer can define an extension, there is a set of requirements that SHALL be met as part of the definition of the extension. Applications processing a resource are required to check for modifier extensions.
Modifier extensions SHALL NOT change the meaning of any elements on Resource or DomainResource (including cannot change the meaning of modifierExtension itself).
Requirements
Modifier extensions allow for extensions that cannot be safely ignored to be clearly distinguished from the vast majority of extensions which can be safely ignored. This promotes interoperability by eliminating the need for implementers to prohibit the presence of extensions. For further information, see the definition of modifier extensions.
Comments
There can be no stigma associated with the use of extensions by any application, project, or standard - regardless of the institution or jurisdiction that uses or defines the extensions. The use of extensions is what allows the FHIR specification to retain a core level of simplicity for everyone.
Cardinality
0..*
Type
Extension
Modifier
yes — Modifier extensions are expected to modify the meaning or interpretation of the element that contains them
When 'subrogation=true' this insurance instance has been included not for adjudication but to provide insurers with the details to recover costs.
Requirements
See definition for when to be used.
Comments
Typically, automotive and worker's compensation policies would be flagged with 'subrogation=true' to enable healthcare payors to collect against accident claims.