In the summer of 1997, while performing a feasibility study for a client interested in implementing EDI (electronic data interchange), Computer Science Corporation (CSC) recognized that an all-payer, all-provider solution would benefit not only its client, but New England patients and providers in general. CSC seized the initiative to propose a collaborative EDI adoption and implementation effort, and in early 1998 the proposal garnered strong interest among several industry-leading health plans and providers. As a result, competing organizations learned that administrative efficiencies are not competitive differentiators - and that they could work together to achieve a common and mutually beneficial goal. A series of meetings orchestrated by CSC led to the formation of NEHEN, and CSC has served as the Program Manager ever since.

NEHEN's founding members - CareGroup, Harvard Pilgrim Healthcare, Lifespan, Partners Healthcare, Tufts Health Plan - recognized early on the value of using standards to integrate administrative transactions by sharing development costs, avoiding transaction fees and eliminating the need for clearinghouses.

While HIPAA was the compelling event, the Massachusetts Health Data Consortium deserves credit for their role in generating a community wide interest in healthcare EDI, and fostering the collaborative environment required to form NEHEN.

In the year 2000, NEHEN successfully implemented specialty care referral transaction and multiplied transaction volumes for eligibility verification. Participation in NEHEN expanded to include contract affiliates - service providers, vendors or agents representing payers or providers. This new model allowed independent physicians, who were not aligned with integrated delivery networks, to connect and derive full benefit from NEHEN.

In 2001, NEHEN's membership expanded based on its success in integrating electronic eligibility verification, referrals and claim status inquiry into members' core administrative processes.

In 2002, NEHEN prepared to use the network to meet the challenge of claims and remittance transactions.

In 2003, the HIPAA deadline became a non-event for NEHEN, while the rest of the healthcare industry was still working to achieve HIPAA compliance.

Today, NEHEN members continue to reap the benefits of administrative simplification and continue to add more trading partners.