Pathology/Lab Coding Alert

Question: Our pathology practice is moving from Louisiana to Texas. Do our pathologists need to apply for new NPIs because we are relocating?

Louisiana Subscriber

Answer: No, you don’t need to apply for new practitioner national provider identifiers (NPIs) even if the pathologist moves to another state.

Background: NPIs were mandated in 2004 to align with HIPAA and simplify electronic transactions. They consist of a 10-digit numeric identifier and are specifically for HIPAA-covered healthcare providers.

NPIs don’t “carry information about you, such as the State where you practice, your provider type, or your specialization,” Medicare guidance says. And that’s why “your NPI will not change, even if your name, address, taxonomy, or other information changes,” notes the MLN booklet, “NPI: What You Need to Know.”

Tip: Although NPIs remain the same after a move, covered healthcare providers still need to notify the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) of an address change within 30 days of the move, CMS indicates. “We encourage healthcare providers who have been assigned NPIs, but who are not covered entities, to do the same. A healthcare provider may submit the change to NPPES via the internet or by paper,” CMS advises. If using a paper format, providers should use the NPI Application/Update Form (CMS-10114).