Message from The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Starting May 23, 2005, all health care providers can apply for their National Provider Identifier (NPI). The NPI will replace health care provider identifiers in use today in standard health care transactions. All Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) covered entities except small health plans must begin using the NPI on May 23, 2007; small health plans have until May 23, 2008. For additional information, and to complete an application, visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov on the web. It is important to note that the Medicare program is not accepting the NPI in standard transactions yet. Explicit instructions on time frames and implementation of the NPI for Medicare billing will be issued later in 2006. Other health plans with whom you do business will instruct you as to when you may begin using the NPI in standard transactions.
Also, an instructional web tool, called the NPI Viewlet, is now available for viewing at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/npi/npiviewlet.asp and under “HIPAA Latest News” at www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2 on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) website. This tool provides an overview of the NPI, a walkthrough of the application, as well as live links to the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System’s (NPPES) website where the learner can apply for an NPI. This tool is designed for all health care providers. In the near future, you will also be able to access the viewlet at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov
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Please refer any questions to our office at 864-233-0254.