Adoption of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) is the latest step in the HIPAA Administrative Simplification process. HIPAA covered entities such as providers completing electronic transactions, healthcare clearinghouses, and large health plans, must use only the NPI to identify covered healthcare providers in standard transactions by May 23, 2007.Small health plans must use only the NPI by May 23, 2008.

Although the compliance deadline for the NPI is not until May 23, 2007, Medicare’s implementation of the National Provider Identifier raises many questions. CMS has published an article which addresses who must obtain an NPI, sharing your NPI, utilization of crosswalks and subparts of a covered organization, as well as other NPI related issues and activities.

To read this article log into the Member Center and click on HIPAA Updates.