CMS ANNOUNCES THE NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER (NPI) ENUMERATOR CONTRACTOR

[CAL/AAEM News Service]

CMS ANNOUNCES THE NATIONAL PROVIDER IDENTIFIER (NPI) ENUMERATOR CONTRACTOR

Source: CMS News (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/media/?media=pressr) 
Date: April 5, 2005


                The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS)
announced today it has taken an important step in helping health care
providers obtain the new standard unique health care provider
identification (NPI) with selection of Fox Systems, Inc. as the
contractor to perform the support operations for the project.

                As "enumerator" for NPI project, Fox will process
applications from health care providers and operate a help desk to
assist health care providers in obtaining the new standard unique health
care provider identification number (the NPI).  The assignment of NPIs
will begin later this year.

                The standard unique identifier for health care providers
is mandated by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act
of 1996 (HIPAA) and will eventually become the primary health care
provider identifier for standard transactions.

                Adoption of the NPI is the latest step in implementing
the Administrative Simplification provisions of HIPAA. The Secretary of
Health and Human Services has already adopted standards for electronic
transactions and code sets, the employer identifier, and the privacy and
security of protected health information.

                Health care providers do not need to take any action to
apply for NPIs at this time. CMS will announce when the system that will
handle the assignment of NPIs will be ready to accept applications.
Health care providers may begin applying for NPIs on that date.

                At the time CMS is ready to accept applications for an
NPI, health care providers will be urged to apply.   While the NPI must
be used on standard transactions with health plans, other than small
health plans, no later than May 23, 2007, health care providers should
not begin using the NPI until health plans have issued specific
instructions on accepting the NPI in standard transactions on or before
May 23, 2007.

                Fox Systems is a national leader in providing consulting
services and solutions to county, state and federal agencies. Fox is
being supported in this work by its subcontractor, Noridian
Administrative Services (NAS) of Fargo, North Dakota.

Information on NPIs can be found at
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2/regulations/identifiers/default.asp,
by calling the HIPAA Hotline: 1-866-282-0659, or by writing to
AskHIPAA at cms.hhs.gov.  CMS will announce information about how to
contact Fox regarding the NPI as the NPI implementation date approaches.


Cyrus Shahpar & Brian Potts 
Managing Editors, CAL/AAEM News Service 
UC-Irvine


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