Dear Medicare Partners:

This message that came from the HIPAA mailing list from CMS, in case you are not on their list directly.

Starting May 23, 2005, all health care providers can apply for their National Provider Identifier (NPI). The NPI will replace health care provider identifiers in use today in standard health care transactions. The health plans with whom you do business will instruct you as to when you may begin using the NPI in standard transactions. All HIPAA covered entities except small health plans must begin using the NPI on May 23, 2007; small health plans have until May 23, 2008. For additional information, and to complete an application, visit https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov on the web.

Also, an instructional web tool, called the NPI Viewlet, is now available for viewing at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/medlearn/npi/npiviewlet.asp and under “HIPAA Latest News” at www.cms.hhs.gov/hipaa/hipaa2 on the CMS website. This tool provides an overview of the NPI, a walkthrough of the application, as well as live links to the NPPES website where the learner can apply for an NPI. This tool is designed for all health care providers. In the near future, you will also be able to access the viewlet at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov on the web.

Michele Kelly
Manager, Community Relations
1055 West 7th Street, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Phone:+1-213-593-6040 (8-632)
Mail to: michele.kelly@eds.com

Dear Medicare Partners:

CMS has requested that we distribute the following information to the Medicare contractor community. We are asking for your assistance by posting this to your websites and publishing in any newsletters.

Medicare has the following announcements on plans for transitioning to the National Provider Identifier (NPI) in the Fee-for Service Medicare Program:
Between May 23, 2005 and January 2, 2006 our claims processing systems will accept an existing legacy Medicare number and reject as unprocessable any claim that includes only an NPI .

Beginning January 3, 2006, and through October 1, 2006, our systems will accept an existing legacy Medicare number or an NPI as long as it is accompanied by an existing legacy Medicare number.

Beginning October 2, 2006, and through May 22, 2007, our systems will accept an existing legacy Medicare number and/or an NPI. This will allow for 6-7 months of provider testing before only an NPI will be accepted by the Medicare Program on May 23, 2007.

Beginning May 23, 2007 our systems will only accept an NPI .

Thank you for your assistance.

Michele Kelly
Manager, Community Relations
NHIC, Medicare Part B
1055 West 7th Street, Suite 500
Los Angeles, CA 90017

Phone:+1-213-593-6040 (8-632)
Mail to: michele.kelly@eds.com