THCIC Secured Server Procedures Manual
Version 1.0November 30, 2005

1Access to THCIC Secured Server

1.1General Information about Secured Websites

2Website

2.1Directions through the THCICHelp desk Website

3Upload Data and Comments

4Response Receipt

5Downloading Correction File

6Download of Encounter File

1Access to THCIC Secured Server

1.1General Information about Secured Websites

HTTPS is the secure version of HTTP (Hypertext Transfer Protocol) which is the communication protocol of the World Wide Web or Internet.[1]

HTTP uses plain text socket communication, HTTPS encrypts the data using the SSL (Secure Socket Layer) protocol, thus protecting the data from attacks in the middle while being transmitted.[1]

Secured Socket layer (SSL) is a protocol for transmitting data over the World Wide Web - Secure HTTP (S-HTTP). SSL creates a secure connection between a your computer and the THCIC/CCS data server, over which your data can be sent securely.[1]

SSL authenticates the client and server to each other: SSL protocol makes use of standard key cryptographic techniques (public key encryption) to authenticate your computer with THCIC/CCS data server on the basis of a certificate. Thus ensuring data integrity, during a session, data cannot be either intentionally or unintentionally tampered with.[1]

Securing data privacy: data in transport between the client and the server must be protected from interception and be readable only by the intended recipient. This prerequisite is necessary for both the data associated with the protocol itself (securing traffic during negotiations) and the application data that is sent during the session itself. SSL is not a single protocol but rather a set of protocols that can be broken down in two layers[1]:

  1. The SSL Record Protocol, and
  2. The protocols that are designed to create an SSL connection:
  3. The SSL Handshake Protocol,
  4. The SSL Change Cipher Spec Protocol, and
  5. The SSL Alert Protocol.

2Website

The THCIC secured website is Make sure you get the “s” on the end of the “http” that indicates the site is a secured transmission site.

2.1Directions through the THCICHelp desk Website

You can go to the THCICHelp website the click on Submit data, then click on Secure_Web You will see the following page:

Or you can type into your address line on you web browser <enter> or Click “Go” (at the end of the address line)

Or you can probably click on the hyperlink (if you are reading this on you computer) and it will probably open your web browser and the following screen should appear.

2.2Login Procedures

Type in your submitter ID (thsub### for example thsub000) or your THCIC facility ID (th#######, for example th000116) in the “User name” field.

Tab to the “Password” field and type in your password (the password you or your primary contact have provided. The click “OK” or press <enter>.

Note: We recommend that you leave the “Remember my password” unchecked otherwise anyone who accesses your computer would be able log into your submission or facility mailbox and either upload or download data.

Note:You also need to allow cookies to be placed on your machine from this site this allows for your computer to be identified.

If you use an incorrect “User name” the following error message page will appear. You will need to exit out of your browser (e.g., Internet Explorer) and open a new window and login again. If you are unsuccessful a second time contact the THCIC HelpDesk

Note: If you put in a correct “User name” and an incorrect “Password” the “Connect to sys1.comclin.com” (Login) screen will reappear with “Password” blank.

The following page will appear the each time you successfully log into the secured server and there are no files to download. If there are files to download one or two “Process” buttons with text (indicating either Error correction files or encounter files are ready to be downloaded) will appear between the Upload and Password buttons.

The picture below is a submitter mailbox as indicated

The screen for the provider/facility mailbox as indicated

Other views of the Main Screen

3Upload Data and Comments

Click the “Browse” button to search for your file or type in the path and filename to upload your file. Once you select a directory path the system will remember the last path used and will return you there on subsequent visits.

A “Choose file” screen will appear and you will need to select the appropriate directory and the file within that directory.

Generally this will open up in a default directory/folder “My Documents”. You will need to locate and select the directory/folder where you have your files. Select the file by highlighting the filename and clicking on the “Open” button or pressing <enter>. The file will be place for upload on the next screen.

You will be returned to the upload screen and the path and filename will be placed in the Upload a file to the Data Warehouse window (you may not be able to read all of path and filename on the screen).

Click the “UPLOAD” button and the file will be transferred to the THCIC Data Warehouse.

After clicking the “UPLOAD” button, you should see the a message that says “Upload processing completed.” Below that message should be your receipt information (your filename and the time received and how large the file was). You have completed your file submission.

4Response Receipts

An E-mail response from the THCIC Data Warehouse regarding test file submission; generally this will appear in 1-2 business days.

The E-mail will look similar to this

DATA WAREHOUSE RECEIPT NOTICE: Commonwealth Clinical Systems

THCIC Data Warehouse, Support

THIS RECEIPT LOOKS BEST WHEN 888 308-4953 Help Desk

VIEWED USING A COURIER FONT 16-AUG-2005 13:00:58.86

Submitter: SUB000 - THCIC Submitter

Contact: Bruce Burns

Email:

Phone: 512-458-7111 ext 6431

Fax: 512-458-7740

************************************************************************

Submission File Name: 53.txt

Receipt Processed: 08/16/05 14:50:49

Commonwealth Name: SUB000_T_837_050816_145049.837

Data Submitter

File Lookup

------

Claim Format 837 837

T=test, P=prod T P ** Test data, production submitter

Claim Count 1

** You MUST notify Commonwealth via fax to have TEST data processed.

A blank fax form is located on our web site:

NOTE: If you sent the fax already, please ignore this reminder.

------

Submission File Name: 53.txt

Receipt Processed: 08/16/05 14:54:03

Commonwealth Name: SUB000_P_837_050816_145403.837

Data Submitter

File Lookup

------

Claim Format 837 837

T=test, P=prod P P

Claim Count 1

------

We will review the quality of your test submission, and also process your data, if possible, through the THCIC audits. We will provide back to you a Pre-Processing Report (PPR - for submitters) and the Frequency and Hardcopy Reports (FER and HCR - normally for hospitals only, but for submitter tests we are also providing these). We will also provide you documents with our comments and analysis. Please allow 5 business days for us to provide this analysis and return all of these reports.

Below is an E-mail response indicating files are located in the provider mailbox.

Attn: Bruce Burns 17-AUG-2005

Texas State Hospital

1100 49th Street, M660

Austin, TX 78751

Phone: 512-458-7111 x 6431 Fax: 512-458-7344

Thcic# 000116

Email:

From: Cindy Polaro, Help Desk Manager

THCIC Help Desk (888) 308-4953 Help Desk

1648 State Farm Blvd. (434) 979-1047 Fax

Charlottesville VA, 22911

Your THCIC electronic mailbox contains the following information that is waiting to be downloaded or sent to you on diskette:

======

> ZIP FILE 08170846.ZIP FOUND <

This indicates that your last download attempt was not successful. Our system requires you to download each zip file successfully before it will clean out your mailbox. Please attempt to download this zip file again or contact the help desk if you are experiencing difficulty.

> Quarterly Encounter Data found <

File th000116_3q04 is ready to be downloaded for certification.

No Frequency of Error report files found.

No Error Claim files found. There are no claims waiting for correction.

======

> HOW TO CHANGE PROVIDER INFORMATION <

To change your provider information, primary contact, notification method, or correction method, fax your change request to THCIC at (512) 458-7740. All such change requests must be made on company letterhead and be signed by the

CEO or Primary Contact. This procedure insures protection of data confidentiality.

5Downloading Correction File

Once you receive an E-mail response that you have an error file to download. You need to log-in to your provider mailbox and you will see a screen similar to the one below or the following screen.

First you will notice there will be one or two “Process” buttons with corresponding text indicating error files or encounter files are ready to be downloaded. Select and click a “Process” button you want to download first.

Or you may only see one “Process” button, which could be either error or encounter (see in example below) files

Once you click on a “Process” button (e.g., error files) another screen window will appear.

Now click the “Download” button. The following screen appears click “Save”

On the “Save As” screen click the directory arrow and the drop down director appears. You will need to place the correction zip file in the C:\Program Files\DCS\Import. You may need to browse through the directories until you find it. Once you highlight the “Import” directory/folder click “Save”

You will be returned to the Download screen after the file has been saved. The file will be removed from view (e.g. Outgoing folder) after 15 minutes. Click “Return” to go back the Main Menu Page.

6Download of Encounter File

From the Main Menu, click the “Process” button next to text “There are encounter files to be downloaded”.

Select and open C:/Program Files/Certview to download the file (you may need to browse through the directories), or some other directory/folder where you choose to keep your downloaded files, if you have not installed the CertView software.

You may already have other folders and files located in this directory/folder (C:/Program Files/

Certview). Click “Save” to download the zip file. Later you will create the folder with CertView in which you will unzip the data.

A progress screen will appear for you to note the download of the file.

After you have downloaded the file confirm that the file is in located in C:\Program Files\CertView.

Now you need to open up CertView and create the folder and then unzip the file in that folder, but that is in another chapter.

1 of 20September 20, 2005

Tech Req & Spec ver 1.0 - Secured Server Procedures.doc

[1] Information obtained from and corresponding links.

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