Medical transaction system

A medical transaction system is disclosed which is capable of permitting a plurality of healthcare providers to communicate with a plurality of payors and financial institutions. The healthcare providers, payors, and financial institutions do not have to communicate in the same data message formats nor in the same communication protocols. Such a system facilitates not only the processing of medical claims submitted by the healthcare providers to the payors, but also permits the transfer of medical data records between healthcare providers. The system supports the processing of medical claims without requiring a centralized database or imposing a uniform claim format on the healthcare providers and payors. The preferred embodiment of the invention further includes a financial transactor that uses remittance information from the payors to generate the electronics funds transfer messages to credit and debit accounts. Additionally, the system supports a medical line of credit at financial institutions that may be used to pay portions of medical claims not covered by payors.