As part of HealthLink’s commitment to providing updates on industry changes and to help ensure that our day-to-day business with customers remains uninterrupted, physicians, hospitals and other health care professionals are reminded of the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Final Rule, part of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA).

The NPI Final Rule was issued on January 23, 2004, and will allow each physician, health care professional and health care institution to use the one unique identifier for all their business needs. This means that regardless of health plan, (including Medicare and Medicaid) providers will use the same provider identifier. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid will only accept web-based applications beginning May 23, 2005. Covered entities (health care providers, clearinghouses and health plans) will be required to use NPIs no later than May 23, 2007 (small health plans are allowed an additional 12 months to comply).

Below are HealthLink’s Readiness and Contingency Statements. After May 23, 2008, we will no longer accept legacy identifiers on electronic transactions. We will post a reminder notification 60 days in advance of that date on our website https://www.healthlink.com/nppes.asp.

HealthLink will continue to keep you updated on our compliance efforts. If you have any questions feel free to contact your Network Consultant.

National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Web Site

HealthLink's NPI Readiness Statement (36k)

Contingency Plan for NPI after the 05/23/07 Compliance Deadline (38k)

Notice from CMS: NPPES Dissemination to Begin September 4, 2007 (489k)

HIPAA National Provider Identifier (NPI) Requirements FAQ (30k)

CMS NPI Tip Sheet (163k)

NPI Electronic 837 – Professional and Institutional Claims Filing Update (61k)

NPI CMS 1500 Claims Filing Update (16k)

NPI UB04 Claims Filing Update (14k)

NPI - Help Us Serve You Better (36k)

May 23, 2007 is not when the process starts, but when the process ends. NOW is the time to act.

In less than 200 days, health care providers, health plans and clearinghouses will be required to use the NPI as the ONLY identifier in electronic health care claims and other transactions – and for HealthLink on paper transactions also.

Click here to complete the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Online Submission Form – By registering your NPI with us, you can help secure a seamless conversion to the NPI.

Click here for the instructions and spreadsheet for the Bulk/Batch Submission Process for National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registration.

Thank you for your cooperation and assistance. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact your Network Specialist for the instructions and spreadsheet for the Bulk/Batch Submission Process for National Provider Identifier (NPI) Registration. Click Here to locate your Network Specialist.