national provider identifier (NPI)
A national provider identifier (NPI) is a unique ten-digit identification number required by HIPAA for all health care
providers in the United States. Providers must use their NPI to identify themselves in all HIPAA
transactions.
Both individual (doctors, nurses, dentists) and organizational (hospitals, clinics, nursing
homes) health care providers are required to obtain an NPI. This number’s sole purpose is to
facilitate organization and create national standards within HIPAA transactions; however, it is
possible to use a provider’s NPI to search for their National Plan & Provider Enumeration
System (NPPES) information. The NPI itself is an “intelligence-free” number -- it carries
none of the holder’s personal identification other than a name and business address.
Having an NPI does not guarantee that a provider is licensed but all licensed providers must
have an NPI.
This was last updated in February 2011
Email Alerts
Register now to receive SearchHealthIT.com-related news, tips and more, delivered to your inbox.
By submitting you agree to receive email from TechTarget and its partners. If you reside outside of the United States, you consent to having your personal data transferred to and processed in the United States.
Privacy
Dig Deeper
-
While the backbone of a disaster recovery plan is meeting HIPAA mandates, effective auditing strategies and data backup, find out why a plan that's believable goes a long way.
-
While preventing a health care data breach is a chief concern among hospitals and medical practices, the steps taken after a breach occurs are equally important for future stability.
-
The latest leadership survey from HIMSS Analytics shows that, for the first time, staffing needs outweigh financial needs when it comes to achieving health IT strategic plans.
-
People who read this also read...
-
Resources from around the Web