Are You Ready for NPI?
Have you assessed your business needs for your NPI (National Provider Identifier) yet? The time is fast approaching when most providers will be required to use their NPI number instead of their Medicare number when billing for Medicare reimbursement. You will need to obtain your NPI number and also test the use of your NPI number in your electronic Medicare billing. All providers must be using the NPI exclusively effective May 23, 2007. It is important to assess your business need for an NPI number early and to begin using this number. All providers in the country who conduct electronic transactions must use NPI so beat the rush. Contact the NPI hotline at 800-465-3203 or email to customerservice@npienumerator.com. For additional information, go on the internet to www.npienumerator.com 
If you need assistance billing claims with your NPI number, please contact your software vendor. If you are using the Medicare provided PC-Ace software, you must upgrade to the 1.74 version of the software. Previous versions do not allow for NPI numbers. For upgrade instructions, please go to http://www.wpsic.com/edi/pcacepro32.shtml on the internet. Remember to print out the new 1.74 User Guide for your NPI setup instructions. For assistance with PC-Ace, please call 877-567-7261 for Illinois, Michigan and Wisconsin. For Minnesota, please call one of the following numbers: 952-885-2811, 952-885-2881 or 952-885-2882 or call toll free to phone number 866-380-4742.
To apply for your NPI number go to: https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do
