NPPES

The National Plan and Provider Enumeration System is the CMS system used to assign and manage National Provider Identifier numbers for healthcare providers.

NPPES is the system where you register for your NPI number. It is run by CMS and is the authoritative source for all NPI data in the United States. When a payer or hospital verifies your NPI during credentialing, they are checking against NPPES. Registering in NPPES is free and can be done online at nppes.cms.hhs.gov. The registration process takes about 15 to 20 minutes. You will need your Social Security Number, medical license information, taxonomy code, and practice location details. After submitting, you typically receive your NPI within five to ten business days. Some applications are processed faster. Once you have your NPI, NPPES is also where you manage it. If you change practice locations, add a new practice address, change your name, update your taxonomy code, or need to deactivate your NPI, you do it through NPPES. Keeping your NPPES record current is important because payers pull data from NPPES to verify your information. A common mistake is forgetting to update NPPES when you move or change practices. Your NPI record should always reflect your current practice location, current mailing address, and current contact information. Discrepancies between your NPPES data and what you report on credentialing applications create delays while the payer tries to reconcile the information. NPPES data is public. Anyone can search the NPI registry to look up a provider's NPI number, name, specialty, and practice address. This is the same data that powers the NPI lookup tools available on various websites. If you lose access to your NPPES account, you can request a password reset or call the NPI Enumerator at 1-800-465-3203. Do not create a new NPPES account or request a new NPI. Each provider should have only one NPI for their entire career.