HIPAA Blog

[ Tuesday, November 11, 2003 ]

 

The National Provider ID is coming! Or so they say. Part of the TCS provisions of HIPAA include reducing every participant in the healthcare industry into a standard and specific identifier number. Plans need a number, payors need a number, providers need a number, individuals receiving care need a number (wait, hold that one). Anyway, according to a recent release by HHS, the proposed regulation for a standard National Provider Indentifier (NPI) has been sent to the Office of Management and Budget for final approval. Right now, the provider's or physician's EIN or social security number have been used in most cases. Of course, it would make sense if the NPI had come out at the time of the TCS; but then again, with the TCS subject to the contingency plan, maybe the roll-out of the NPI will coincide with a reining in of the contingency plan. If that's the case, look for HHS to start pushing hard (especially on CMS) to hold everyone to use of the TCS standards, now that they have to start using the new NPIs too.

I don't know if the NPI will have a 2-year phase-in like most of HIPAA, but I'll keep you posted.

Jeff [11:28 PM]

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