What additional requirements are there for a Nurse Practitioner (NP) to prescribe medications?
• National Provider Identifier (NPI) All health care providers- including those serving Medicare beneficiaries- are now required to apply for a new National Provider Identifier (NPI) that will be used in all electronic health care transactions. The NPI will replace all other provider identifiers currently being used. The National Provider Identifier initiative was mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPPAA) and requires that NPIs be used by health plans, health care clearinghouses, and health care providers that process claims, handle claim status inquiries/responses and eligibility inquiries/responses, as well as other transactions. Nurse practitioners can apply for an NPI by going to nppes.cms.hhs.gov. Applications can be submitted online now or via regular mail. • Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Number: A Federal Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Number is required to prescribe and dispense narcotic and controlled substances
