What happens when Availity “up-converts” or “down-converts” a file from 4010A1 to 5010 or vice versa?
When Availity “up-converts” a file, it conveys data from a submitted 4010A1-formatted transaction to the corresponding necessary data fields on the 5010 record format. This means that the 4010A1 transaction is now converted “up” to the minimum standard necessary to comply with 5010 transaction requirements. Conversely, if a submitter sends a 5010 formatted record to a payer not yet equipped to handle 5010 files, Availity will “down-convert” the 5010 record by mapping data from it to the corresponding necessary data fields in the older 4010A1 format. Either or both scenarios may be used to complete a round-trip information exchange between a submitter and payer. In any event, it is Availity’s goal to present the information to the end-customer in whichever version they prefer and can process.
