Health care providers need new national identifier Published Dec. 2, 2005 By Master Sgt. Richard B. Searles Air Force Surgeon General Public Affairs WASHINGTON (AFPN) -- To improve electronic transactions for health care, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services is now assigning a new provider identifier to standard transactions. The National Provider Identifier will be the single provider identifier, replacing those currently used for different systems and health plans. "The goal of the NPI is to simplify the administration of the health care system and enable efficient electronic transmission of health information," said Susan Brockman of the Air Force Medical Support Agency. She is the Air Force’s NPI point of contact. The NPI will be used throughout the entire United States health care system to identify health care providers in HIPAA- covered standard electronic transactions. With national standards and the identifier in place for electronic claims and other transactions, health care providers will be able to submit transactions to any health plan in the United States. "These national standards will make electronic data interchange a viable and preferable alternative to paper processing for health care providers and health plans alike," Ms. Brockman said. "Health plans will be able to send standard transactions such as referral authorizations to health care providers." Providers that need an NPI include all privileged providers, residents and non-privileged providers if their work involves writing referrals, consults or providing billable services. The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services has developed an NPI online application system. More information on how to apply is available at www.cms.hhs.gov/providers/npi. All providers must obtain their NPI by May 23, 2007.