Modem Programs
The topics of this section include...

• Setting up ComNet
  
• Setting up Zterm
  

ComNet32
ComNet32 is a simple to use Shareware application that can dial your phone and connect to insurance company systems to both send claims and receive responses.

The ComNet installer is likely on the PracticeMaker5 CD. Open the folder "Extras". Next open "Modem Programs" and then "ComNet for Windows". Inside here you need to double-click on "cnet3210.exe" and follow the instructions.

However, if you need a copy of ComNet, you can get a copy from our website. It is in the following location. Copy the entire address below and paste it into your web brower


At the dialog below click Save, and save the file to a place you can find it later, such as your Documents folder. (Personally, I created a folder called "Downloads" on my "Local Disk (C:)" where I told my web browser to put all my downloaded file. This way there are no surprises later.)


In order to install you need to double click on to let the software install itself. The program commnet32.exe is installed into the directory C:\ComNet32.

ComNet32 is a basic, scriptable modem program. We have scripts that, in conjunction with the ComNet's Phone book, can dial, connect, and log you into the receiving computer where you can upload and download files.

To start up ComNet you can either go the ComNet32 folder and double click on the application commnet.exe, or if the ECS Control Module is properly setup you could click on Open Telecom and the software will open. Regardless of method, the startup "terminal window" below appears. The three most important menu selections are circled in red.


Communications
Under this menu item is Phonebook (accessible pressing alt-p). The Phonebook must be setup to dial your Medicare carrier (or whatever) in order to connect. Press alt-P to get to the screen below.




The first thing you want to do is click once on this initial entry and then click Delete entry(s) as we do not need this sample.

Second, click on Add dial-up entry to get the screen below. Complete is basically as entered below but put in the correct number to dial to send claims. Make sure that in Login Script Filename you enter "medicare" (all lowercase) for your Medicare carrier or "blueshield" for your Blue Shield carrier.



Next, you need to set up your modem. For this click Edit in the Hardware Settings. You will to now which Com port our modem is connected to. If you do not know, ask your resident computer person to figure this out. The rest of the settings should match what you see below. Once done, click OK, then Save and last Exit Phonebook one the Phonebook dialog. You are once again at the terminal window.


The Scripts Menu
Basically, there are two choices here for us, Edit and Create. We will either supply you with the script file to use with your dial-up connection or help you create one.

The Transfers Menu
From under this menu select Set Receive Directory. This MUST be done prior to sending claims because the software will not know where to put the files you receive in response. The place where claims are to be put is shown below, in the PracticeMaker5 folder on a workstation. The folder "Received" is where the files need to go.



After selecting Set Receive Directory you get the dialog below where you need to navigate to the PracticeMaker5 folder on your hard drive, double click on "Received" to select it and then just click Open as shown in the second dialog. Do NOT change "newfile" in the File name field.



Now that you have set up ComNet properly you can begin transmitting claims and receiving files. You will need to contact your local Medicare or Blue Shield carrier, or whoever you will be transmitting claims too, and ask them for the "User's Guide". This will guide you through the transmission process. Many insurance carriers have websites where you can easily download such support documents.

Zterm for Macintosh [top]
Zterm for OS9 and OSX function very much the same. The screen shots below are for the OS9 version.