May 23, 2007, was the official deadline to obtain your NPI. Despite all the talk about a one-year “grace period,” the reality is that if you don’t have your NPI your claims could be delayed or denied.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) last month announced a one-year grace period during which physicians will not be penalized for noncompliance as long as they have a contingency plan in place and are able to demonstrate “good faith efforts” to comply with the regulations.
To prove good faith, you must obtain your NPI as soon as possible. Apply online or call the NPI Enumerator at 800-465-3203 and request a paper application form.
Obtaining an NPI now will help you avoid cash flow disruptions. Even though the grace period also allows payors to continue accepting legacy ID numbers until May 23, 2008, they may at any time during the next year decide to stop accepting legacy numbers and to only accept NPIs.
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