NPI
Also written as: NPI — National Provider Identifier
A unique 10-digit identification number assigned to each licensed dental (and other health) provider in the United States for use in standard healthcare transactions.
Full Definition
The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a HIPAA-mandated, 10-digit numeric identifier issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to individual dental practitioners and dental organizations. It is used on all standard electronic and paper claims, referral forms, and other administrative healthcare transactions in place of older insurer-specific provider numbers. Editors working on dental claim forms, referral letters, or credentialing documents must ensure NPIs are presented as unbroken 10-digit strings without hyphens or spaces. There are two types: Type 1 (individual practitioners) and Type 2 (organizational entities), and editors should flag ambiguous references that do not specify which type is intended.
Usage
Usage note: Always render as a 10-digit numeral with no internal punctuation. Distinguish between Type 1 (individual) and Type 2 (organizational) NPIs when context requires.
In Context
- "The insurance claim was rejected because the NPI entered for the treating dentist did not match the enrolled provider record." — Insurance claim form
- "Each referring dentist's NPI must appear in Box 54 of the ADA claim form." — Billing documentation guide