PeopleSoft releases HR tools

PeopleSoft said Tuesday that it has released a program designed to help human resource departments comply with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, or HIPAA, a new set of government regulations designed to protect patient privacy. The program, called 834 transaction file, is part of PeopleSoft's electronic benefit enrollment application, a component of its human resources system.

Beginning in October, HIPAA will require some companies to use standard data content, codes and formats for electronic enrollment transactions, according to PeopleSoft. The company said its application meets the user security and authentication requirements of HIPAA. The software also supports data encryption standards to help maintain the privacy of employees' sensitive personal health information, the Pleasanton, Calif.-based company said.