The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on May 30, 2007 that it would make available online certain health care provider data contained in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). This data will be available through an internet-based NPI registry in two formats – in an initial downloadable file, with monthly update files that will also be downloadable from the internet, and in a query-only database that will allow users to query by NPI number or by provider name. CMS has delayed the launch of the NPI registry until August 1, 2007 in order to allow providers to review their disclosable NPPES data and make any changes or deletions they feel are appropriate in order to protect any sensitive information provided by the providers when they initially applied for their NPI numbers. Such data includes information provided by providers in the optional data fields in the NPI application, such as other first name, other last name, address, phone and fax numbers, among others.
CMS has published a document entitled “National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Data Elements – Data Dissemination – Information for Providers” to assist providers in determining which of the NPPES disclosable data may be updated, changed or deleted. This document can be accessed at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/06a_DataDissemination.asp.
Providers can make changes to their NPPES data either online through the NPPES website at http://Nppes.cms.hhs.gov or through the submission of a paper NPI Application Update Form (Form CMS-10114) which can be downloaded at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/cmsforms/downloads/CMS10114.pdf.
Providers should note that in order for their changes to be reflected in the initial downloadable file, July 16, 2007 is the last date on which they may be submitted through the NPPES website and on which the NPI Enumerator can receive them on the paper NPI Application Update Form. Changes that are submitted after July 16, 2007 will be reflected in the next available monthly update file.
For assistance with updating your NPPES data, or if you have any questions regarding NPI numbers in general, please contact Victoria Heller Johnson, Esquire, in Fox Rothschild’s Health Law Group (610-458-4980 or vjohnson@foxrothschild.com).