National Provider Identifier (NPI)
The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) Administrative Simplification Standard. The NPI is a unique identification number for covered health care providers. Covered health care providers and all health plans and health care clearinghouses will use the NPIs in the administrative and financial transactions adopted under HIPAA.
To learn more about NPI, visit:
Centers For Medicare & Medicaid Services:
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/nationalprovidentstand/
To search the NPI Registry, visit:
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/NPIRegistryHome.do
To apply for your NPI, visit:
The National Plan and Provider Enumeration System:
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/StaticForward.do?forward=static.npistart
Beginning May 23, 2007 (May 23, 2008, for small health plans), the NPI must be used in lieu of legacy provider identifiers in the HIPAA standards transactions. Covered entities may invoke contingency plans after May 23, 2007, and guidance about contingency plans may be found in the Downloads section below.
At Data Niche, we are preparing our systems for the implementation of NPI. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.