NPI: Continue Submitting Your Legacy Number
As noted in previous announcements by the Agency and our contractors, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to begin testing the new software that has been developed to use the National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the existing Medicare fee-for-service claims processing systems. Providers have until May 23, 2007, before you are required to submit claims with only an NPI.
Until testing is complete within the Medicare processing systems, CMS urges providers to continue submitting Medicare fee-for-service claims in one of two ways:
- Use your legacy number, such as your Provider Identification Number (PIN), NSC number, OSCAR number or UPIN; or
- Use both your NPI and your legacy number.
Until testing of the new software that uses the NPI in the Medicare systems is complete and until further notice from CMS, the following may occur if you submit Medicare claims with only an NPI:
- Claims may be processed and paid, or
- Claims for which Medicare systems are unable to properly match the incoming NPI with a legacy number (e.g., PIN, OSCAR number) may be rejected to the provider, and then you will need to resubmit the claim with the appropriate legacy number.
As always, more information and education on the NPI can be found at the CMS NPI page
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand
on the CMS Website. Providers can apply for an NPI online at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov or can call the NPI enumerator to request a paper application at 1-800-465-3203.
**Getting an NPI is free - not having one can be costly.**
(Dated 10/09/06)
