Psychiatr News January 5, 2007
Volume 42, Number 1, page 13
© 2007 American Psychiatric Association
Psychiatric Practice & Managed Care
|
Your National Provider Identifier: Get It and Use It
Starting on May 23, your National Provider Identifier (NPI) will be the
only identifier that most health plans, both public and private, will use to
identify you in all standard transactions such as claims, coordination of
benefits transactions, enrollment in health plan networks, etc. (Smaller
health entities will have until May 23, 2008, to start using the NPI.)
The NPI, mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability
Act of 1996, replaces the Uniform Provider Identification Number (UPIN),
currently required under Medicare, and other identifying numbers assigned by
insurers. The NPI functions much like a Social Security number—it is
yours for life and will never be assigned to another provider. The only time
it will be changed is in the case of identity theft.
NPIs are issued through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System
(NPPES), developed by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).
NPPES can can be accessed online at
<https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do>,
where you will find information on NPIs and an application form. you can fill
out and submit the application online or obtain a hard copy by calling (800)
465-3203.
The application form takes about 20 minutes to complete. Individual
providers are asked to provide name, Social Security number (or ITIN for those
not eligible for a Social Security number), date of birth, country of birth,
state of birth (if born in the United States), gender, mailing address,
address and phone number of practice, taxonomy (for psychiatrist, the code is
2084P0800X; the online form has a pop-up box that allows users to select the
correct code), state medical license information, and a contact person's name,
phone number, and e-mail address.
Since October 2, 2006, CMS has permitted Medicare providers to submit
electronic claims using only their NPI, although CMS recommends that providers
include their UPIN as well. Use of NPIs on paper claims began on January
2.
If you submit paper claims, be sure to use the revised form CMS-1500 that
includes a block for the NPI. Be aware that if you enter your NPI in block 33
on the old CMS-1500 claim form, the claim will be rejected.
More information on NPIs is posted on the CMS Web site at
<www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/>.
Check that site periodically for updates. 
Footnotes
APA OFFICE OF HEALTHCARE SYSTEMS AND FINANCING
Get information about faster international access.
Privacy Policy
Copyright © 2007
American Psychiatric Association.
All rights reserved.
Home
| Search
| Current Issue
| Past Issues
| Subscribe
| All APPI Journals
| Help
| Contact Us
| 
