| Many people believe that the NPI number was | | | | Medicare provider number, Medicaid provider |
| initiated by the HIPAA Act of 1996. Actually, the | | | | number, Champus provider number, UPIN number, |
| NPI number was initiated by CMS (Centers for | | | | and all other payors' unique provider numbers |
| Medicare & Medicaid Services) in July of 1993. | | | | (such as Blue Cross Blue Shield). NPI numbers will |
| CMS wanted a national identification system for all | | | | not replace tax id number or social security |
| healthcare providers and many of the existing | | | | number, DEA number, taxonomy number, or |
| identifiers did not meet the standards for national | | | | license number. |
| standards. The HIPAA Act of 1996 required the | | | | Once an NPI number is assigned to a covered |
| adoption and use of a standard unique identifier | | | | healthcare provider it will not change. NPI numbers |
| for healthcare providers. All covered healthcare | | | | will travel with a healthcare provider if they move |
| providers will be required to have an NPI number | | | | from one geographical location to another. NPI |
| by May 23, 2007. | | | | numbers can be deactivated if the healthcare |
| The National Provider Identifier, or NPI, is a 10 | | | | provider is deceased or goes out of business. NPI |
| position, all numeric, identification number assigned | | | | numbers will not be reissued to a different |
| by the NPS to uniquely identify a healthcare | | | | healthcare provider once they have been |
| provider. If you are an individual healthcare | | | | deactivated. |
| provider you will need to apply for an NPI number | | | | Covered healthcare providers can apply for their |
| under your individual name. If you belong to a | | | | NPI number from now until May 23, 2007. |
| medical group, you will need an NPI number for | | | | Applications began being accepted in May of 2005. |
| the group and an NPI number for each individual | | | | I strongly recommend that you apply immediately. |
| healthcare provider in the group. | | | | There is no reason to put it off. The closer it gets |
| Medical Billing Services are not eligible for NPI | | | | to the deadline, the busier the application process |
| numbers because they are not a covered | | | | will become. |
| healthcare provider. A covered healthcare | | | | Any changes in information need to be reported |
| provider is any provider who transmits any health | | | | to NPPES within 30 days of the change. |
| information in electronic form. | | | | NPI numbers can be obtained by completing an |
| NPI numbers will replace the healthcare provider's | | | | online application which takes about 20 minutes. |