May 23, 2008 is here! Are you using your registered NPI?
Claims submitted without a registered NPI on or after May 23, 2008, will reject. You must register your NPI with IBC prior to submitting claims. Register your NPI online with IBC now.
Claims submitted with invalid NPIs will be rejected
Each claim must pass an NPI check-digit validation to ensure that it has a valid NPI. To date, many claims are not passing this check-digit validation. Claims that fail the check-digit validation after May 23, 2008, will be rejected. The most common reasons why claims are not passing the NPI check-digit validation are:
- the wrong provider identifier is entered in an NPI field;
- the NPI is entered incorrectly;
- the number entered is not a valid NPI.
As of May 23, 2008, in accordance with the CMS mandate, providers must use the NPI as the primary identifier on the claims, and IBC will reject claims with invalid NPIs on or after this date.
General NPI Information
The NPI is a unique, ten-digit identifier that the CMS issues to all health care providers as mandated by the federal government via the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). The NPI eliminates the need for multiple identifiers from different health plans. All covered entities under HIPAA must obtain an NPI. We began requiring participating providers to use their NPI for all electronic and paper health care transactions on May 23, 2008, in accordance with CMS mandates.
How to obtain an NPI
Providers who have not yet obtained their NPI may apply for it through an easy, web-based application process that takes approximately 20 minutes to complete online.
You may also call the National Provider Identifier Enumerator call center at 1-800-465-3203 to request a paper application.
Please note: The most time-efficient way to obtain an NPI is to complete the web-based application process.
Once an NPI application has been successfully processed, the applicant will receive an NPI confirmation notice, including a ten-digit NPI issued by the enumerator. Web applicants will receive confirmation via email; paper applicants will receive confirmation via standard mail.
How to Register your NPI with IBC
Registering your NPI with IBC is easy. Once you have obtained your NPI(s), you may register online using our NPI Provider Registration Web Form. All providers (participating and nonparticipating) may register using the appropriate online form.
Participating providers may also register their NPI(s) with us by mailing their completed custom NPI Submission Form. This form has been included in mailings to participating provider offices.
Contact your network coordinator with questions regarding the new Provider Registration Web Form or your custom NPI submission form.
NPI Resources and Communications
View IBC’s
Frequently Asked Questions about NPI.
Our monthly Partners in Health Update publication includes articles with NPI information starting June 2006.
Additional NPI resources on the web
