Start the new year out by mapping out your practice's strategy to implement the required National Provider Identification number process or NPI. The application process for NPIs has been in place now since May 2005. The application process is the first in many very important stages of the NPI's implementation process. January 2006 marks the next step as the first time that the NPI can actually appear along side a provider's valid and existing traditional Medicare Provider Legacy number. It is important to note that during this period January - October 2006 the claim data must also include the valid Medicare Provider Legacy number. The period from January 2006 through October 2006 has been set forth to allow for this integration process. The next significant NPI hurdle comes in October 2006 when claims that contain both the traditional legacy number and the new NPI will be processed by the utilization of both numbers. The final phase-in period allowing only the use of the NPI is scheduled for May 2007; however, all providers should be very accustom to the use of their NPIs within their claim data file well before the final deadline to fully implement the NPIs in early 2007.

If you have not applied for your NPI it is extremely important that you or your employer do so immediately. If you are a member of a group practice, your group practice itself will have to have an NPI as well as the individual providers within that group. "...for many group practices this is a two step application process and the first of many steps that involve not only providers, but IS, EDI, and practice managers as well, all working together to achieve this national uniformity goal..." says BCS, Incorporator's President, Lee S. Broadston. Furthermore Lee continues, "....groups that are bringing on new providers need to make certain that they request a new provider's NPI information along with the traditional credentialing document requirements. If an application for an NPI is submitted but a provider already has been issued an NPI the system will reject the request and the provider will need to be contacted."