CMS Grants Contingency Period for National Provider Identifier (NPI) Use
On April 2, 2007, CMS announced that it would grant a 12-month contingency period for use of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) number. Because CMS realized that many covered providers are not able to meet the deadline established by the Health Insurance Portability Accountability Act of 1996, it will continue accepting legacy identifier numbers until May 23, 2008. CMS is basing the enforcement process on a "good-faith" effort by providers to demonstrate that they are attempting to comply with the standard by obtaining and using their NPIs. CMS will examine providers' reasonable and diligent effort to become compliant on a case-by-case basis.
CMS plans to provide further guidance on the NPI provisions and compliance requirements and will announce its own contingency plans of implementing the NPI soon.
For more information on this contingency period, see the CMS notice:
www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/Downloads/NPI_Contingency.pdf
Click here for additional background information on the NPI
If you have any questions, please call Helen Olkaba at (800) 227-5463, ext 4132.