The compliance deadline for physicians to use HIPAA version 5010 electronic transaction standards is January 1, 2012. The Centers of Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will not enforce compliance until March 31, 2012. Although compliance will not be enforced until then, CMS will investigate complaints regarding non-compliance with version 5010 standards beginning  in January. Physicians who face a complaint must provide proof of their efforts to become fully compliant. Check out ISMS's Issue Brief, Is Your Practice Ready for HIPAA 5010? (member login required) for more information.