National Provider Identifier
If you are a health care provider who bills for services, you probably need an NPI. If you bill Medicare for services, you definitely need an NPI! Getting an NPI is easy. Getting an NPI is free. The first step is to get your NPI. Once you obtain your NPI, it is estimated that it will take 120 days to do the remaining work to use it. This includes working on your internal billing systems, coordinating with billing services, vendors and clearinghouses, and testing with payers. As outlined in the Federal Regulation, (The Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA)) you must also share your NPI with other providers, health plans, clearinghouses, and any entity that may need it for billing purposes. If you delay applying for your NPI, you risk your cash flow and that of your health care partners as well.
More detailed information is available by accessing the links located on this page.
Getting an NPI is free - Not Having One Can Be Costly.
National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Web Site - Information regarding NPI and to apply for an NPI
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do 
CMS National Provider Identifier Web Page - Helpful information and the latest National Provider Identifier (NPI) news for health care providers
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/
Educational Resources - NPI training package, fact and tip sheets, NPI related MLN Matters articles, NPI question resource sheet, FAQs, and other resources
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand
/04_education.asp#TopOfPage
Medicare NPI Implementation - NPI claims processing information, Medicare implementation timeframes, and Medicare expectations on determination of subparts
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdent
Stand/06_implementation.asp#TopOfPage
National Provider Identifier (NPI) for a Service Facility 
(04/21/08)
Page Last Updated: Tuesday, 15-Jul-2008 10:35:47 CDT
