The NPI is a unique, ten–digit identifier that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) issue 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.
View Independence Blue Cross’s (IBC’s) Frequently Asked Questions about NPI.
Providers who need an NPI may apply for it in one of two ways:
Once an NPI application has been successfully processed, the applicant will receive an NPI confirmation notice, including an automatically issued ten–digit NPI. Web applicants will receive confirmation by email; paper applicants will receive confirmation by standard mail.
Help avoid rejected claims: use a registered, valid NPI.
Our system will reject any claims submitted without a registered NPI. Avoid rejected claims by registering your NPI with Independence Blue Cross before submitting claims. Register your NPI online with IBC now.
Get more information about how to register your NPI with IBC.
Our system reviews each claim to ensure it contains a valid NPI. To date, many claims are not passing this validation stage. Claims that fail the validation stage are automatically rejected.
Most common reasons why claims are not passing the validation stage:
Federal Register, January 23, 2004 — HIPAA Administrative Simplification; Standard Unique Health Identifier for Health Care Providers; Final Rule.
For more information on how to submit claims, please refer to the Claims Submission Toolkit for proper electronic and paper claims submissions.
Federal Register, January 23, 2004 — HIPAA Administrative Simplification; Standard Unique Health Identifier for Health Care Providers; Final Rule.