Noridian Administrative Services -the largest Medicare carrier now in the US.... will no longer allow providers to establish new electronic claims connectivity with them without providing the NPI information on the providers within the group. That means, that if I take a new job as a CRNA and then am added to the group within the Medicare files and then within the electronic data interchange files -so that my employer can electronically transmit my case/charge data to Medicare, I must have an NPI before that can be accomplished. HIPAA regs require nearly all providers to submit their claims data via electronic means now, so the end result is no ability to get the claims data to Medicare for reimbursement without an NPI even though the NPI final implementation is not until May 2007.