While the recent statement that follows regarding use of the National
Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) is from Medicare [link to
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/ and then click
on Medicare NPI Implementation in the box on the left for it and
more], it could just as easily apply to any health plan's pre-NPI
provider identifiers.

Dave Feinberg
Rensis Corporation [A Consulting Company]
206-617-1717
DAFeinberg@...
Author of "Understanding HIPAA Communications"

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"The Importance of Reporting Medicare Legacy Numbers in NPPES

"The reporting of legacy numbers in the 'Other Provider
Identifier'/'Other Provider Identifier Type Code' fields in the National
Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) will assist Medicare in
successfully creating linkages between providers' NPIs and the
identifiers that Medicare has assigned to them (such as PINs).

"You should be aware that if you remove your legacy numbers from the
'Other Provider Identifier'/'Other Provider Identifier Type Code'
fields, linkages that Medicare has established using the reported
Medicare legacy numbers will be broken and your Medicare claims could be
rejected."
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