Health care providers are individuals or organizations that render health care as defined in 45 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 160.103. Who Must Get an NPI? All health care providers who are HIPAA-covered entities, whether individuals or organizations, must get an NPI.

Is an NPI number the same as a license number?

The NPI does not replace numbers used for other identification purposes, including a provider’s taxpayer identification number, DEA, state license, or social security number. It does, however, replace all previous identification numbers that providers used for healthcare information transactions, claims, and billing.

Who assigns the national provider identifier?

A National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique 10-digit identification number issued to health care providers in the United States by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

What is an NPI number and how is the NPI number obtained?

An NPI is a 10 digit numerical identifier for providers of health care services. It is national in scope and unique to the provider. Whereas in the past, a provider had a different identification number for each payer, after May 23, 2007, a provider will have a single identifier that will be used across all payers.

Does an RN need an NPI?

Registered nurses—in par- ticular, APRNs—who directly bill health insurers for nursing services using elec- tronic billing must apply for, obtain, and use an NPI. The NPI is a 10-position, “intelligence-free” numeric identifier (10-digit number).

Is the provider a sole proprietor NPI?

Individual health care providers may get NPIs as Entity Type 1. As a sole proprietor, you must apply for the NPI using your own SSN, not an Employer Identification Number (EIN) even if you have an EIN. Note: An incorporated individual is a single health care provider who forms and conducts business under a corporation.