When will the National Provider Identifier (NPI) go into effect?
On January 23, 2004, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) issued a final rule adopting the National Provider Identifier (NPI) as the standard unique health identifer for health care providers, including physical therapists, to use in filing and processing health care claims. The standard unique health identifier is mandated by the HIPAA. The NPI will replace all “legacy” identifiers that are currently being used and will improve efficiency in the health care delivery system by eliminating the need for health care providers to maintain and keep track of numerous identification numbers. Each health care provider will be assigned one NPI, which will not change over time. Physical therapists and other health care providers can begin to apply for their NPI’s on May 23, 2005, the effective date of this final rule. As this date approaches, CMS will provide the health care industry with further information on the application process.
Related Questions
- When a provider is billing Medi-Cal for a surgery, do they need to include the facility’s National Provider Identifier (NPI) on the claim?
- Does Wells Fargo Third Party Administrators, Inc. have any special requirements for use of the National Provider Identifier (NPI)?
- When are providers required to bill Medi-Cal using their National Provider Identifier (NPI) on the new CMS-1500 claim form?
