“Whenever you have multiple devices including multiple PCs that you want to share information with, it’s always been a bit complicated.”  — Bill Gates

FileMaker Pro’s Capabilities in EDI

Collecting and sharing data between different systems has traditionally involved repetitive data entry, which is time-consuming and often prone to errors. The Electronic Data Interchange (EDI) format is a structured method of presenting data that allows different systems and even different organizations to streamline business processes, speed up transactions, and virtually eliminate errors.

EDI Success Story 1: Connecting Filemaker Pro from Healthcare to Government

The team at Portage Bay Solutions has extensive experience developing FileMaker Pro-based solutions that incorporate EDI functionality. 

One notable project involved an application for vocational counseling firms engaged in case management. This application required electronic billing to the State of Washington, initially utilizing a proprietary EDI format. We modernized the app’s billing module to support the industry-standard 837 medical billing format. Following is an 837 file example representing a patient’s health information in EDI:

NM1*85*2*BH CLINIC OF VANCOUVER*****XX*1122334455~

N3*12345 MAIN ST~

N4*VANCOUVER*WA*98662~

REF*EI*720000000~

PER*IC*CONTACT*TE*9185551212~

NM1*87*2~

N3*PO BOX 1234~

N4*VANCOUVER*WA*986681234~

HL*80*79*22*0~

SBR*P*18**COMMUNITY HLTH PLAN OF WASH*****CI~

NM1*IL*1*SUBSCRIBER*JOHN*J***MI*987321~

N3*987 65TH PL~

N4*VANCOUVER*WA*986640001~

DMG*D8*19881225*M~

NM1*PR*2*COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN OF WASHINGTON*****PI*CHPWA~

CLM*1805080AV3648355*20***57:B:1*Y*A*Y*Y~

REF*D9*7349064036~

HI*ABK:F1020*ABF:F1120~

NM1*82*1*PROVIDER*JAMES****XX*1112223338~

PRV*PE*PXC*261QR0405X~

NM1*77*2*BH CLINIC OF VANCOUVER*****XX*1122334455~

N3*12345 MAIN ST SUITE A1~

N4*VANCOUVER*WA*98662~

EDI Success Story 2: Connecting Filemaker Pro from Healthcare to Multiple Payers

Similarly, we worked with our long-time healthcare client in California to implement the 837 format. This project presented several unique challenges and required rigorous testing with multiple payers, each of whom had their specific requirements and interpretations of the 837 standard. Development was time-consuming due to the complexity of the EDI format and the occasional ambiguity related to mapping FileMaker Pro data to specific fields within the EDI document.

EDI and Filemaker for Procurement and Invoicing

We are currently preparing to embark on another EDI project for an existing client,  which involves receiving purchase orders (850) and sending billing acknowledgments (855, 856, and 860). This comprehensive EDI solution will further streamline our client’s procurement and invoicing processes.

Tips for Implementing EDI 

When updating a FileMaker Pro solution to incorporate or modify EDI exports, it’s crucial to follow these steps:

1. Thoroughly understand the EDI format being implemented.
   • The specifications are complex, and the documentation is sometimes unclear.
   • Find clear documentation for the format you are implementing that shows what piece of data goes in each position in the file.
2. Format your data correctly, especially numbers, dates, and times.
   • Sometimes leading zeros are required.
   • Sometimes fields have to be padded with spaces.
3. Conduct rigorous testing.
   • Test the updated EDI exports in  a variety of scenarios to identify and address any potential issues before deploying the changes to production.

The Continued Relevance of EDI

While newer data interchange technologies, such as REST API, are more common these days, EDI remains a well-established and widely used standard across many industries. Its robust framework and widespread adoption ensure its continued relevance in the years to come. FileMaker Pro developers can confidently implement EDI support within their solutions knowing that this investment will provide long-term value and enhance their ability to seamlessly integrate with their business partners.

Contact Us

For more than thirty years, Portage Bay Solutions has been solving business problems by developing custom solutions that optimize and improve operations. If your organization is in an industry that utilizes EDI, such as government, healthcare, manufacturing, and finance – or your business needs to exchange data with these types of companies – we can build a customized solution to suit your needs. Spend some time on our website to find out more, then send us a message or schedule a call.

About the Author

John Newhoff is Senior Partner and Lead 4th Dimension developer at Portage Bay Solutions. He has created numerous, sophisticated cross-platform solutions. His background in business and years of experience in database design, computer and network configuration, and system troubleshooting allow him to see beyond the immediate problem to the long-term solution.