Providers have three more months until enforcement of the new 5010 claim submission standard begins, CMS announced March 15.

As a result, providers who submit claims in the old 4010 format through June 30 will not be penalized.

While the 5010 standard’s official compliance date was Jan. 1, CMS announced late last year that it would delay enforcement of the standard through March 31.

Now, the federal Medicare agency has decided to delay enforcement again, noting that “there is still a number of outstanding issues and challenges impeding full implementation.”

So far, more than 70% of Part A claims and more than 90% of Part B claims are 5010-compliant, the announcement notes. But by June 30, overall compliance will climb to 98%, CMS predicts.

The announcement urges the industry to work closely together to reach that goal. Meanwhile, CMS says it will provide “more technical assistance for covered entities” and promises more details in forthcoming announcements.