National Provider Identifier (NPI) Contingency Guidance
National Provider Roundtable with Question & Answer Session
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) will host a National Roundtable on the recently released NPI Compliance Contingency Guidance. This toll-free call will take place from 2:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m., EDT, on Wednesday April 18, 2007.
The CMS announced that through May 23, 2008, CMS will not impose penalties on covered entities that deploy contingency plans to facilitate the compliance of their trading partners (e.g. those healthcare providers who bill them). The posted guidance document can be used by covered entities to design and implement a contingency plan. Details are contained in a CMS document entitled, “Guidance on Compliance with the HIPAA National Provider Identifier (NPI) Rule.” To view this guidance, visit http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/Downloads/NPI_Contingency.pdf on the CMS website.
The final rule establishing the NPI as the standard unique health provider identifier for health care providers was published in 2004 and requires all covered entities to be in compliance with its provisions by May 23, 2007, except for small health plans, which must be in compliance by May 23, 2008.
CMS encourages health plans to assess the readiness of their provider communities and determine the need to implement contingency plans to maintain the flow of payments, while continuing to work toward compliance.
The call will open with a presentation on the Contingency Guidance announced on April 2, and it should be of particular interest to health plans that are developing their own contingency plans. Following the presentation, callers will have an opportunity to ask questions of CMS subject matter experts.
A second Roundtable will be scheduled following the Medicare Fee-for-Service announcement of its contingency plan. This call will be of particular interest to Medicare providers and trading partners. Information on this call will be announced shortly and posted on www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand.
The CMS guidance and resultant contingency plans that may be implemented by covered entities does not remove the requirement and expectation for health care providers to acquire an NPI. Getting an NPI is easy and free. Go to www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand for more information.
April 18, 2007 conference call details:
Date: April 18, 2007
Conference Title: NPI Contingency Guidance Roundtable
Time: 2:30 – 4:00 p.m. EDT
In order to receive the call-in information, you must register for the call. It is important to note that if you are planning to sit in with a group, only one person needs to register to receive the call-in data. This registration is solely to reserve a phone line, NOT to allow participation. Registration will close at 1:00 p.m. EST on April 17, 2007. No exceptions will be made, so please be sure to register prior to this time.
1. To register for the call participants need to go to:
https://ww4.premconf.com/webrsvp/register?conf_id=7749423
2. Click "Continue" to be taken to the registration screen.
3. Fill in all required data.
4. Click "Submit".
5. You will be taken to the confirmation screen where the call-in number will be given.
6. To view the time the call will start, you will need to select your time zone in the drop down box under "Time" on the confirmation screen.
7. Click "Confirm Registration" to receive a confirmation email.
For technical issues with web registration for this Roundtable, please call 1-800-289-0579. For those individuals who are unable to attend, an audio file of the conference will be posted at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/04_education.asp on the CMS website.
