Home Forums Discussions General Discussion The new yearly $150 interface fee

I logged into the AC portal to update CC info and saw that we'll be charged a $150 interface fee for our link to TotalMD on 1/1/17. I called AC to ask about this and was told it's required to keep our interfaces. I asked if we don't pay it, how can they turn it off? Because the interface "files" exists on our computers only. They can't remote in an turn it off. Or is that some other way they can do it? I asked the sales person this and he doesn't know how it works. Anyone know?

AC "phones home" at startup/login. That's how the initial splash screen changes to the name of your practice. I assume that there is some two-way info being shared. Maybe including interfaces?

At least you got the interface to work. I paid $1000 to total MD and then $500 to AC and it has not worked. It has been 16 months and it doesn't work. It seems to us that the insurance and patient information has be double entered and so what good is the interface. I'm not throwing any more good money after bad. Serene...did you need to enter everything twice. That is what total MD told us. From their point of view there was and AC problem and from AC's point of view it was a total MD problem. I don't even have a contact person or means of communication from totalMD yet I get one way emails trying to sell something else quite frequently. It has been a major frustration. Not happy.

Hi St Lawrence. Yes our interface does work. I don't have to enter everything twice. It is very particular how you put in the insurance info. The address line has to match exactly in TotalMD and in AC. I figured this out by trial and error. But patient info should transfer w/o any problem.

I haven't asked about this particular issue, but the application does "Phone Home", so it is reasonable to anticipate that current or newer versions will turn off interfaces if the fee is not paid.

If anything, when you have an issue with the interface because one or both of the softwares is upgraded, AC can refuse to fix your interface until all missing payments are made.

JamesNT

the fee is the fee. it not unreasonable.

in return i'd expect a well functioning interface, prompt fixes to bug reports, and maybe even interface enhancements per user requests.

i'd focus more on the second part.


anyone else use labcorp interface? every time patient names don't match we have to "match" the name repeatedly for every part of the test. seems like something that could be fixed with enough user requests.

I used LabCorp's interface, and Larry is right, it chokes on anything except the exact name. Plus, the formatting of the lab report in AC is a kludgy monospace mess. Bye bye interface, you are just a distant MU nightmare now.

Yes it wouldn't be unreasonable if they support it. In the past, AC will tell me it's a TotalMD problem and TotalMD will tell me it's an AC problem...

Serene,
That was my experience and we have not implemented it still after 14 months. I have 11 days before my interface expires. I guess that it will only work if it is on my server and putting it on the server could bring everything to a screeching halt. How difficult was it for you to implement? And how is it working now. I feel that I've thrown a lot of money down the toilet. If it would work, I wouldn't mind the annual fee but to date, I'm nowhere with it.
Nancy

Well, will see how this works. I wrote Amazing Charts an email telling them how disappointed I was with Total MD and the interface and not being able to implement after 14 months. I'm very happy that Amazing Charts has assisted me in getting the interface going and they are starting my first year from now instead of a year ago. Sometimes it seems like it is difficult to get their attention but they have always come through for me. I have some hope that I can get this to work again. I will not mind the annual interface fee if the two will work. THANKS AC....Especially Vance Simmons and Charlie and Amy for your help!
Nancy