If your practice uses Medisoft or Lytec to submit electronic claims or verify patient eligibility, an important deadline is approaching. Optum is making changes to how electronic transactions are processed, and many practices will need to take action before September 1, 2026 to avoid disruptions to claims processing, delayed reimbursements, and the cash flow problems that follow.
This article explains what is changing, who is affected, what your options are, and how to prepare before the deadline arrives.
What Is Changing?
Optum is updating the technical format it requires for electronic transactions. As a result, the connections that many Medisoft and Lytec practices currently use to submit claims and verify eligibility will stop functioning after the deadline.
This is not a software bug or a temporary outage — it is a permanent change driven by Optum’s requirements. According to CGM, the company behind Medisoft and Lytec, the ECG2 format update will not be built into these products. That means practices relying on existing connections will need to transition to a supported alternative before the cutoff.
Why This Matters
When a clearinghouse connection stops working, the impact on a practice is immediate:
- Claims stop going out. If claims cannot be submitted electronically, they either pile up or require manual workarounds.
- Eligibility checks fail. Staff cannot verify patient coverage before appointments, increasing the risk of claim denials.
- Reimbursement is delayed. Claims that don’t go out don’t get paid. Delayed reimbursement means delayed cash flow.
- Cash flow suffers. For many practices, even a short disruption in claim submissions can have a meaningful impact on monthly revenue.
The good news is that this disruption is entirely avoidable — but only for practices that prepare in advance.
Who Is Affected?
This change affects medical practices and billing companies using Medisoft or Lytec that currently submit electronic claims or verify eligibility through any of the following connections:
- Optum (direct connection)
- Relay Health
- Change Healthcare
- Microwize Direct
If your practice is already using eMEDIX for both electronic claims submission and eligibility verification, you are generally not affected by this transition and no action is required.
If you are unsure which connection your practice is using, contact your Microwize account manager for a quick review.
Important Deadlines
There is no grace period for either of these dates.
Date | What Changes |
|---|---|
September 1, 2026 | Electronic claims submission connections are discontinued |
September 30, 2026 | Eligibility verification connections are discontinued |
Planning around these dates is essential. Enrollment processes, software upgrades, and testing all take time — time that is running out.
Supported Software Versions
Before transitioning to a new clearinghouse connection, your software must meet the minimum version requirements. Practices running older versions of Medisoft or Lytec will need to upgrade first.
Software | Status |
|---|---|
Medisoft v24 and above | Ready to transition |
Medisoft v23 and below | Upgrade required |
Lytec 2021 and above | Ready to transition |
Lytec 2020 and below | Upgrade required |
Software version matters because the integrations required to connect to a new clearinghouse are only available in supported releases. Running an older version means enrollment alone will not be enough — the upgrade must come first, which adds time to the process.
Your Transition Options
Option 1 — eMEDIX (Recommended)
eMEDIX is the clearinghouse solution supported and recommended by CGM for Medisoft and Lytec users navigating this transition. It integrates directly with both products and is the path that Microwize is actively assisting practices with.
Benefits of transitioning to eMEDIX include:
- Native integration with Medisoft and Lytec
- Enrollment assistance handled with guidance from your account manager
- Crosswalk support — claims begin routing through eMEDIX immediately upon setup, even before payer enrollment is fully complete, minimizing downtime
- Testing to confirm claims and eligibility are working before go-live
- Ongoing support from the Microwize team
The crosswalk built by CGM means that once you are set up on eMEDIX, electronic claims begin routing immediately. Submissions continue through Change Healthcare in the background until enrollment finishes, so there is little to no downtime for your practice during the switch.
Option 2 — Another Clearinghouse
Some practices may choose to transition to a different clearinghouse. This is a valid option. In that case, enrollment is completed directly with the chosen vendor, and Microwize can assist with software configuration on the Medisoft or Lytec side where applicable.
If you are considering an alternative clearinghouse, it is worth starting that conversation now, as enrollment timelines vary by vendor and by payer.
What Does the Transition Process Look Like?
While every practice’s environment is a little different, the general process follows these steps:
- Review your current clearinghouse connection — Confirm which connection(s) your practice is using and whether they are affected.
- Confirm your software version — Check whether you are running a supported version of Medisoft or Lytec.
- Upgrade if necessary — If you are on an older version, schedule the upgrade before beginning enrollment.
- Complete enrollment — Enroll with your chosen clearinghouse. For eMEDIX, Microwize will guide you through this process, including Medicare enrollment if applicable.
- Test submissions — Before going live, test claims and eligibility to confirm everything is working correctly.
- Begin using the new connection — Once testing is complete, your new connection is active and claims route normally.
Why Practices Should Start Early
The September 1 deadline sounds far away until you account for everything that needs to happen first.
- Medicare enrollment alone can take several weeks. This is one of the most common bottlenecks in the transition process.
- Software upgrades take time to schedule, install, and verify.
- Testing is strongly recommended before any go-live to avoid claim rejections.
- Account managers are working with multiple practices simultaneously. The closer it gets to September, the more demand there will be for support.
Starting early gives your practice the time it needs to complete each step without rushing — and without risking a gap in claims processing during one of the most critical stretches of the year.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is this change happening?
Optum is requiring all connected software vendors to adopt a new electronic transaction format. CGM, the company behind Medisoft and Lytec, has confirmed it will not be building this update into its products. As a result, existing Optum-connected clearinghouse paths will stop working on the dates above.
What happens if I don't make a change?
Your claims will stop going out and your eligibility checks will fail. There are no exceptions, no grace periods, and no manual workarounds. The September 1 cutoff is set in stone. Robert was direct about this: he regularly receives calls 90 days after a deadline from practices whose cash flow has dried up because they didn’t act in time. That is exactly the situation this transition is meant to prevent.
Does this affect eligibility verification as well as claims?
Yes. Claims submission is affected as of September 1, 2026. Eligibility verification has a separate cutoff of September 30, 2026. If your practice runs eligibility checks regularly, both deadlines apply to you.
Do I need to upgrade Medisoft?
If you are on Medisoft v23 or below, yes — an upgrade to v24 or above is required. The eMEDIX connection is built into Revenue Management and is only available in supported versions. Practices on cloud agreements with Microwize are likely already on a current version. If you are on-premise and unsure, call Microwize and they can check for you.
Do I need to upgrade Lytec?
If you are on Lytec 2020 or below, yes — an upgrade to Lytec 2021 or above is required for the same reason. Contact your account manager if you are unsure what version you are running.
Can I use a clearinghouse other than eMEDIX?
Technically yes, but it comes with significant tradeoffs. Other clearinghouses like TriZetto or Waystar will not have the full built-in integration that eMEDIX has with Revenue Management.
There will be more manual work, more configuration, and CGM will not be providing development support for those connections. Microwize’s involvement would also be limited to the initial Revenue Management setup. Microwize recommends transitioning to eMEDIX and will work with each practice to provide the most cost-effective path forward while ensuring a smooth transition.
How long does enrollment take?
For most commercial payers, enrollment moves quickly. Once your TPID (submitter ID) is issued — which can happen in as little as 48 to 72 hours, sometimes same day — many payers can be enrolled immediately.
Government payers like Medicare, Medicaid, and TRICARE can take 10 to 30 business days. ERA enrollment can also take time, but eMEDIX has built a tunnel through Change Healthcare so claims continue processing and ERAs continue flowing while enrollment is still in progress.
What if I already use eMEDIX?
If you are already using eMEDIX for both electronic claims submission and eligibility verification, you are not affected by this change at all. No action is needed.
Who should I contact?
Call your Microwize account manager directly, or reach the team at 201-322-4100, Option 1. You can also email sales@microwize.com or support@microwize.com. Full details are available at microwize.com/optum-update-2026.
Watch the Recorded Webinar
If you’d like a full walkthrough of the changes, our technical team hosted a live client information session covering everything practices need to know. The recording is now available on demand.
In the recording, our team covers:
- An overview of the upcoming Optum changes
- Who is affected and what it means for your practice
- September implementation deadlines
- Software version requirements
- Available transition options, including eMEDIX and alternative clearinghouses
- The enrollment and migration process
- Answers to frequently asked questions
Next Steps
If you haven’t already, here’s what to do now:
- Determine whether your practice is affected — review which clearinghouse connection(s) you are currently using.
- Check your software version — confirm you are on a supported version of Medisoft or Lytec.
- Watch the webinar — the on-demand recording covers the full picture in detail.
- Contact Microwize — your account manager can review your specific setup and walk you through your options.
- Start your transition before September 1 — the earlier you begin, the more time you have to complete enrollment, testing, and any necessary upgrades without disrupting your claims workflow.
Conclusion
The 2026 Optum changes are approaching, and for practices using Medisoft or Lytec through affected clearinghouse connections, the window to prepare is getting shorter. A disruption to claims processing — even a brief one — can delay reimbursement and affect practice cash flow in ways that take time to recover from.
The transition itself is manageable, especially with early planning and the right support. Microwize is working with practices through every step of the process, from software upgrades to enrollment to testing. If you have questions about your practice’s specific situation, we encourage you to reach out sooner rather than later.