National Provider Identifier (NPI)
The Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandated the adoption of a standard unique identifier for health care providers by March 23, 2007. The National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) collects identifying information on health care providers and assigns each a unique National Provider Identifier (NPI).

Health care providers can apply for NPIs in one of three ways:

• For the most efficient application processing and the fastest receipt of NPIs, use the web-based application process. Simply log onto the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) and apply on line https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do

• Health care providers can agree to have an Electronic File Interchange (EFI) organization (EFIO) submit application data on their behalf (i.e., through a bulk enumeration process) if an EFIO requests their permission to do so

• Health care providers may wish to obtain a copy of the paper NPI Application/Update Form and mail the completed, signed application to the NPI Enumerator located in Fargo, ND, whereby staff at the NPI Enumerator will enter the application data into NPPES. The form will be available only upon request through the NPI Enumerator. Health care providers who wish to obtain a copy of this form must contact the NPI Enumerator in any of these ways:
o Phone: 1-800-465-3203 or TTY 1-800-692-2326
o E-mail: customerservice@npienumerator.com
o Mail:
NPI Enumerator
P.O. Box 6059
Fargo, ND 58108-6059

Once providers have received their NPIs, they must share their NPIs with other providers with whom they do business, and with health plans that request their NPIs, as outlined in current regulation.