Method for encoding messages between two devices for transmission over standard online payment networks

1 . A method of using a dictionary of message codes related to health care information, the message codes having corresponding message values, the method comprising:

receiving at least one message value at a first device;

generating at least one message code related to health care information from the at least one message value using corresponding message values from the dictionary; and

transmitting the at least one message code over a payment processing network.

2 . The method of claim 1 wherein the health care information is related to health care eligibility.

3 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one message value is related to health care eligibility information associated with a patient.

4 . The method of claim 1 wherein the first device is a POS terminal associated with a health care provider.

5 . The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

determining a version for the dictionary, wherein the step of generating the at least one message code is performed with the determined version for the dictionary.

6 . The method of claim 1 wherein the dictionary is locally accessible to the first device.

7 . The method of claim 6 wherein the dictionary resides within the first device.

8 . The method of claim 1 wherein the at least one message value comprises a semantic value.

9 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving the at least one message code at a second device;

generating the at least one message value from the received at least one message code using corresponding message codes from the dictionary; and

determining health care data based on the at least one message value.

10 . The method of claim 9 further comprising:

generating a second message code related to the health care data using corresponding message values from the dictionary;

transmitting the second message code to the first device over the payment processing network;

receiving the second message code at the first device;

generating a second message value from the received second message code using corresponding message codes from the dictionary; and

providing the second message value to a user.

11 . The method of claim 10 wherein the health care data comprises patient eligibility for a health care service.

12 . The method of claim 10 wherein the health care data comprises patient eligibility for a health care product.

13 . The method of claim 10 wherein the health care data comprises health care product eligibility under guidelines associated with a health care flexible spending account or other healthcare reimbursement arrangements.

14 . The method of claim 9 wherein the second device is associated with a transaction processor.

15 . An apparatus using a dictionary of message codes related to health care information, the message codes having corresponding message values, the apparatus comprising a computer readable medium including:

code for receiving at least one message value at a first device;

code for generating at least one message code from the at least one message value using corresponding message values from the dictionary; and

code for transmitting the at least one message code over the payment processing network, wherein the at least one message code relates to health care information.

16 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the health care information is related to health care eligibility.

17 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the first device is a POS associated with a health care provider.

18 . The apparatus of claim 15 , further comprising:

determining a version for the dictionary, wherein the step of generating the at least one message code is performed with the determined version for the dictionary.

19 . The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the dictionary is locally accessible to the first device.

20 . The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the dictionary resides within the first device.