Enhancements/Updates to NPPES effective on/after September 13, 2009

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The following security enhancements will be incorporated into NPPES:

·         NPPES web users will be required to select five secret questions and answers.  Upon implementation of this enhancement and upon successful login, NPPES web users will be prompted to select five secret questions and provide answers to those questions.  These five secret questions and answers will be saved and used for verification in order to allow NPPES web users to reset their own passwords.

·         NPPES web users will be prevented from changing their passwords more than once within 24 hours from the last password update.  Upon implementation of this enhancement, NPPES web users will be required to wait 24 hours before attempting to change their passwords once they have already successfully reset their passwords.    

Electronic File Interchange (EFI)

In addition, the EFI User Manual and Technical Companion Guide have been revised.  The upcoming changes will not impact the EFI XML Schema. 

Additional Information

Health care providers can apply for an NPI online at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov .  Health care providers needing assistance with applying for an NPI or updating their data in NPPES records may contact the NPI Enumerator at 1-800-465-3203 or email the request to the NPI Enumerator at CustomerService@....

Not sure if you have already obtained an NPI or cannot remember your NPI, you can visit the NPI Registry at https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/NPIRegistryHome.do to search for the information.  The NPI Registry enables you to search for a provider’s NPPES information, which includes the NPI.  All information displayed in the NPI Registry is done so in accordance with the NPPES Data Dissemination Notice.  Information in the NPI Registry is updated daily.  You may run simple queries to retrieve this read-only data.  For example, users may search for a provider by the NPI or Legal Name/Legal Business Name.  There is no charge to use the NPI Registry.

Visit CMS' dedicated NPI web page at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand  for additional NPI education and information.

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