National Provider Identifier (NPI)

Health care providers needed to replace their Blue Cross provider numbers with a new identifier by May 2008, under HIPAA regulations. In January 2004, the U.S. Department for Health and Human Services published a final rule establishing the National Provider Identifier (NPI) as the standard unique identifier for health care providers that are covered entities under HIPAA.

If you have received your NPI from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES), Blue Cross is collecting your NPI number. As of May 23, 2008, Blue Cross is accepting NPI only transactions.

Information and instructions

NPI Bulletin
National Provider Identifier: The NPI is here. The NPI is now. Are you using it?
view document (PDF)

NPI Bulletin Update April 2009
view document (PDF)

NPI questions & answers
Answers to common questions about National Provider Identifiers.
view document (PDF)

Update NPI
An updated NPI can be submitted through Provider Web Self-Service or by completing a Provider Demographic Change form (PDF) for any contracting provider/facility or practitioner already set up on our system. (For new contracting providers/facilities or practitioners, the NPI should be entered on the initial request forms.)

Fax to (651) 662-6684 or mail to:
Provider Data Operations, S116
PO Box 64560
St. Paul, MN 55164-0560

*Please allow up to 60 days for completion of this process.*

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – general HIPAA information
Introduction to HIPAA information on CMS site.
visit the site

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – administrative simplification
Information and latest news about the administrative simplification provisions for HIPAA.
visit the site

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – NPI background and application process
Self-directed viewlet about NPI, the system behind NPI and the application process.
visit the site

Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services – NPI application process through Electronic File Interchange
Information about how providers can have a particular organization apply on their behalf.
visit the site

National Plan and Provider Enumeration System
Information about the system that assigns the unique National Provider Identifiers.
visit the site

Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange
Information on the Strategic National Implementation Process.
visit the site