Health Information Management

CMS issues NPI ’Dear Provider’ letter

HIPAA Weekly Advisor, May 16, 2005

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CMS May 6 issued a letter to healthcare providers detailing the requirements and steps providers must take to apply for and use the national provider identifier (NPI), implemented to meet a requirement of HIPAA.

It also describes the benefits of using NPIs, including

  • improving electronic transactions in healthcare
  • encouraging electronic commerce by simplifying the process
  • reducing the burden on healthcare providers by creating the ability to submit transactions to any U.S. health plan

NPIs will replace identifiers providers use today in standard transactions. Providers can start applying for their numbers on May 23, 2005. Most health plans have until May 23, 2007 to accept and use NPIs. Go to the CMS Web site to read the letter in its entirety.



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