National physician ID initiative to begin in spring

Starting May 23, physicians will be able to apply for their own National Provider Identifiers from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The NPI will be used to identify physicians and other providers covered under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act and eventually replace all other identifiers that they use for reimbursement and other transactions with private payers, clearinghouses, and the government, according to American Medical News (12/13/04).