Get Your NPI Now

For many years, the federal government has promised that all health care providers will someday have one identifying number that they can use for all purposes. That day is finally here. All large health plans, including Medicare and Medicaid, must exclusively begin using the National Provider Identifier (NPI) by May 23, 2007. If you are going to continue to bill those programs after that date, you must use your NPI.

However, it is important that you obtain your NPI now. It will take time for health plans to integrate your number into their systems. If you delay applying for your NPI, you risk the ability of health plans to meet the NPI compliance date and risk your ability to be reimbursed in a timely fashion.

According to the CMS Web site, there are three ways that you can obtain your NPI. You can:

• Complete the on-line application at the NPPES web site; https://NPPES.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do;
• Download the paper application form at www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/ and mail it to the address on the form; or,
• After asking you for your permission, authorize an employer or other trusted organization to obtain an NPI for you through bulk enumeration, or Electronic File Interchange (EFI).

Regardless of how you obtain your NPI, it is important that you retain the notification document that NPPES sends to you that contains your NPI. You may need to share this notification with other health care entities.

In May 2005, CMS issued a letter announcing that health care providers may apply for their National Provider Identifier (NPI). That letter explains the purpose of the NPI and the implementation for using the NPI. CMS also has a NPI Fact Sheet that contains all the basic information on the NPI. By May 23, 2008, all health plans, small and large will be required to use the NPI instead of individual provider numbers.