The letter writer on my 6.5.5 still has all my letter templates just in a different place - when I go into a letter and right click - the Amazing Charts Templates are listed there. I am not sure about your question of converting the insurance information - is this what is noted as "codified" ? I know this adds in insurance information - I do not believe it is mandatory but not really a big deal. I am not sure about entering insurance info - I had not noted.
Was the HL7 interface one supplied by AC and if so - recommend you contact Guardian Angel and get them started on fixing it.