Hopefully by now your facility has received its National Provider Identifier, or NPI. This identifier, which was mandatory for all providers on May 23, 2007, will replace the UPIN and all other Medicare identifiers. Providers are now required to obtain an NPI and provide this information to Medicare during enrollment and on all claim forms and correspondence.
Existing centers should already have an NPI but for those just developing a surgery center, obtaining your NPI is another essential piece of the puzzle. There are several ways to apply for your NPI. The fastest way is with the online application which is available here. If you need to learn more about the NPI or have specific questions regarding its issuance or use however, CMS is the best resource. They have a large Frequently Asked Questions database and a copy of the final ruling printed in the Federal Register.
Before applying for your NPI you will need to have a few pieces of information handy. This information is different for facilities, who receive an organizational NPI, and providers. Ambulatory Surgery Centers are assigned an organizational NPI. The information needed is facility’s legal name, physical and mailing address, telephone and fax numbers, Medical Director’s name and contact information, Tax ID information, Taxonomy, and contact person information. Typically a repsonse is generated in 7-10 days, but it is not often that I wait more than an hour to receive notification of the NPI, which can be obtained through email. You will want to print or save a copy of the notification. If you are a new center this notification is a required part of your Medicare Enrollment application, but that’s a post for a different day.
Submitted by Jessica Kopittke, Director of Regulatory Affairs
