Preparing for the ERA Posting Process
Prior to ERA posting, you need to complete certain pre-requisites in preparation for the ERA posting process. The summarized list of processes to be completed in preparation for ERA are:
- Enroll for ERA with a trading partner (clearinghouse or payer).
 - Complete the following setup in File Maintenance for ERA posting: 
   
- Remittance Profile Library
 - Reason Codes Library
 - Payers Master File
 - Payers-Alt Payers Master File
 - Enterprise Preferences
 - Practice Preferences
 
 - Create a network directory and folder filing structure for ERA 835 files that can be accessed by all users who download/import files. For example: 
   
- ServerName:\ERA\Medicare
 - ServerName:\ERA\Medicare\Unprocessed_Files
 - ServerName:\ERA\Medicare\Successful_Files
 - ServerName:\ERA\Medicare\Partially_Processed_Files
 - ServerName:\ERA\Medicare\Failed_Files
 - ServerName:\ERA\Medicare\Reports
 
 - Determine the naming convention to be used for ERA 835 files and reports.
 - Consult with the trading partner for downloading files from their website.
 - Download an ERA 835 file from the trading partner.
 - Ensure that the ERA payer numbers are entered correctly for the payer in the Payer master file and for the alternate payer in the Payers-Alt Payers master file.