You’ve heeded the advice to get your NPI, but you’ve been told to keep using your current identifiers. What’s the holdup?

Actually, you’re helping to keep things exactly on schedule. On May 23, 2007, NPIs will be required on most electronic transactions.* On this date, dentists who are considered “covered entities” under HIPAA will be required to include NPIs on electronic transactions. Payers and clearinghouses will be required to accept them. Between now and then, we’re all working to prepare for that deadline. By getting your NPI, you’ve already done your part.

Delta Dental is working to transition our systems to accept NPIs from dentists who are either required to have them or just want them, and regular identifiers from dentists who choose to continue submitting claims only on paper without NPIs. Thanks to the hard work of our IT professionals, Delta Dental will be ready to accept NPIs in place of all other numbers from dentists well before the government deadlines.

If you haven’t heard from us already, we may soon be asking for you to begin submitting your NPI in conjunction with your current identification number. This will allow us to enter your NPI into our systems, ensuring a smooth transition as we move forward. As soon as we’re ready to accept NPIs in place of other identifiers, we’ll notify you and your staff.

*Smaller health payers have been given an additional year to prepare for accepting NPIs. Check with individual payers to determine if they are bound to the 2007 or 2008 deadline.

The information provided in this article is for educational and informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as legal advice. Dentists are encouraged to seek their own legal advice regarding the application of the National Provider Identifier Rule to their practices and circumstances.