BALTIMORE--CMS announced last week that it will delay dissemination of data from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System until Sept. 4.
In May, CMS had said its registry of National Provider Identifier numbers would be available June 28, then delayed its release until August, explaining that would give providers time to analyze their information for the new Internet database and to make any updates or changes. (See HomeCare Monday, July 2.)
The agency said it has once again pushed back release of the registry so providers "can view their FOIA-disclosable NPPES data and make any edits they feel are necessary prior to our initial disclosure of the data." To be available in a real-time, query-only database and a downloadable file, the NPI registry will include data from providers that are disclosable under the Freedom of Information Act.
Providers must submit their edits no later than Monday, Aug. 20, so that any problems with the edits can be resolved, the agency said.
The registry will become operational on Sept. 4, and the downloadable file will be ready approximately one week later, according to the announcement.
Each month thereafter, CMS will provide a full replacement file that reflects updates and changes to the NPPES records. Providing a replacement file instead of monthly updates will eliminate problems users might have in trying to link updates to records included in the initial file, the agency said.
Some of the key data elements that are FOIA-disclosable are:
- NPI
- Entity Type Code (1-Individual or 2-Organization)
- Replacement NPI
- Provider Name (First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Prefix, Suffix, Credential(s), OR the Legal Business Name for Organizations)
- Provider Other Name (First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, OR 'Doing Business As' Name, Former Legal Business Name, Other Name for Organizations)
- Provider Business Mailing Address (First line address, Second line address, City, State, Postal Code, and Country Code if outside U.S., Telephone Number, Fax Number)
- Provider Business Location Address (First line address, Second line address, City, State, Postal Code, and Country Code if outside U.S., Telephone Number, Fax Number)
- Healthcare Provider Taxonomy Code(s)
- Other Provider Identifier(s)
- Other Provider Identifier Type Code
- Provider Enumeration Date
- Last Update Date
- NPI Deactivation Reason Code
- NPI Deactivation Date
- NPI Reactivation Date
- Provider Gender Code
- Provider License Number
- Provider License Number State Code
- Authorized Official Contact Information (First Name, Middle Name, Last Name, Title or Position, Telephone Number)
CMS cautioned that the delay does not alter a requirement that HIPAA-covered entities must comply with the NPI Final Rule no later than May 23, 2008. "All NPI contingencies that may be in place must be lifted by that date," the agency said.
To read the CMS announcement in full, click here.
