What is an NPI number? A National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is a code given to all medical providers by Medicare and Medicaid. The code is 10 digits, and is unique for each entity, whether a person or organization. Anyone who practices medicine is given a number, and so is included on an NPI registry for easy access. Their number remains the same regardless of whether they move or change jobs. An NPI number is included on all applications and claims forms submitted under Medicare and Medicaid. It's primarily used for healthcare providers to identify themselves in financial transactions and for care plans to identify and coordinate themselves with other providers.
How does the NPI registry work? The NPI registry allows you to perform an NPI lookup for any doctor, physician, or healthcare provider. Included on the registry are: • • • • •
Family medicine practitioners Physician's assistants Internal medicine Nurse practitioners And more
To obtain the necessary information for completing claims forms, or to simply search or confirm a practitioner is registered, you can enter any of the following information: • • •
Name (search will return all NPI registered practitioners with that name) Organization name (search will return all NPI registered organizations featuring these words) An NPI number (search will return the record for that exact number)
You can filter by state to make things easier, or leave this open for a more general search. The result will give you a practitioner or organization's information, including name, NPI number, address, contact number, and area of medicine. An NPI registry is different from simply an NPI number, as the number alone doesn't contain any information such as the state in which the individual practices or their specialty. Therefore, using an NPI registry allows you to obtain all the necessary information about a practitioner or organization. NPI Lookup functions as an easy-access tool for obtaining necessary information about medical practitioners. This allows individuals to easily complete their Medicare and Medicaid application and claims forms without missing vital details. You can use NPI Lookup to find doctors, specialists, nurse practitioners, hospitals, labs, and more. Using an NPI registry to search NPI numbers saves valuable time and ensures all the details on your claims and application form are correct.