The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has published a Special Edition (SE) article to remind providers that on May 23, 2007, the NPI will replace health care provider identifiers that are in use today in HIPAA standard transactions. Health care providers should remember that getting an NPI is free and easy.
Time is running out! It is estimated that, once a provider obtains an NPI, it may take up to 120 days to implement the NPI in current business practices.
This article also reiterates the enumeration requirement that suppliers of durable medical equipment, prosthetics, orthotics and supplies must obtain an NPI for each location. The only exception to this requirement is if the supplier is a sole proprietor. Sole proprietors are only eligible for one NPI regardless of the number of location they may have.
The information in this article may be reviewed by visiting the
CMS Web site (PDF, 114 KB).