Attachment integrated claims system and operating method therefor

The system as recited in claim 7, wherein:

• said first form is a Final Payment Claim form;
• said digitized data corresponds to explanation of Medicare benefits (EOMB) information;
• and
• said second form is an explanation of benefits (EOB) form.

A system for transmitting and receiving attachment integrated mail messages each containing a plurality of field data and digitized data corresponding to at least one of the field data, said system comprising:

• first means for generating one of the attachment integrated files including:
• second means for storing first operating instructions readable by said first means;
• third means for generating the digitized data;
• fourth means for exhibiting a predetermined first form, said first form being stored in said second means;
• fifth means for entering first alpha-numeric characters into said first form;
• and
• sixth means for converting said first alpha-numeric characters into fields to thereby generate first field data, and for converting the first field data and the digitized data into said one of the attachment integrated files;
• seventh means for transmitting said one of said attachment integrated files;
• and
• eighth means for receiving said one of said attachment integrated files from said seventh means including:
• ninth means storing second operating instructions readable by said eighth means;
• tenth means for entering second alpha-numeric characters required to complete a predetermined second form into said second form;
• eleventh means for exhibiting said first form, said second form, said first and second forms being stored in said ninth means, and said digitized data, wherein at least a portion of said first alpha-numeric characters are exhibited in said first and second forms simultaneously;
• and
• twelfth means for converting said second alpha-numeric characters into fields to thereby generate second field data, and for generating an outgoing file containing said second field data.

A method for operating a computer system including first, second and third computers, each of said first, second and third computers including a memory, an input device, and a display, respectively, said first and said second computers being connected to one another by modems and a common communication line, and said first computer including a digitizing device, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) retrieving a first form from storage in the first computer's memory and displaying said first form on the first computer's display;
• (b) writing first field data to said first form using the first computer's input device;
• (c) digitizing a patient's x-ray to thereby generate a digitized x-ray;
• (d) combining said digitized x-ray and said first form so as to generate an attachment integrated file;
• (e) transmitting said attachment integrated file to the second computer;
• (f) transmitting said first field data from said second computer to said third computer;
• (g) generating a second form upon receipt of said attachment integrated file, said first and second forms containing at least a portion of said first field data;
• (h) displaying said first form, said second form and an image corresponding to said digitized x-ray on respective displays of said third computer and said second computer;
• (i) writing second field data to said second form using said third computer's input device;
• (j) transmitting said first and second field data corresponding to second form back to the first computer.

A method for operating a computer network including first and second computer systems connected by a communications channel, each of said first and second computers including a memory, an input device, and a display, respectively, said method comprising the steps of:

• (a) retrieving a first form from storage in the first computer system's memory and displaying said first form on the first computer system's display;
• (b) writing first field data to said first form using the first computer system's input device;
• (c) combining a digital attachment and said first form so as to generate an attachment integrated file;
• (d) transmitting said attachment integrated file to the second computer system;
• (e) generating a second form upon receipt of said attachment integrated file, said first and second forms containing at least a portion of said first field data;
• (f) displaying said second form and an image corresponding to said digital attachment on the second computer system's display;
• and
• (g) writing second field data to said second form using the second computer system's input device.