NPIdentify Desktop Help


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Starting NPIdentify Desktop

Click the image below for a full-size screenshot (version 2.0):
Click for a full-size screeshot

Your NPIdentify Desktop software contains a huge database of healthcare providers – as many as 310,000 in the California edition. While smaller state files such as Wyoming open very quickly on startup, it takes a few moments to open the larger large state files. Please be patient; NPIdentify is putting itself together so that your searches will be lightning fast.

To Start NPIdentify Desktop
Double click the desktop icon, or use the Start menu links (Start | All Programs | NPIdentify Desktop [state]). You will see a brief splash screen, then NPIdentify Desktop will create a thumbnail window, and you will see a program in your task bar at the bottom of your screen. Wait until you see the NPIdentify Desktop window open (see screenshot at right).

NOTE: If you have other Microsoft Access-based applications on your computer that use versions other than Access 2007, and you have opened those applications since your last use of NPIdentify Desktop, you may see the Windows Installer window briefly as you open NPIdentify Desktop. This is because NPIdentify Desktop uses the Access 2007 Runtime system, and needs to update its configuration between uses of different versions of Access. You may see the same Windows Installer window as you open one of your other Access databases. This is normal operation.

To Minimize the NPIdentify Desktop Window
You may have several NPIdentify Desktop state directories and some other programs open at the same time. To minimize the window, click the "—" button in the upper right hand corner area of the NPIdentify Desktop window. This will minimize the program to the task bar. To see it again, click the NPIdentify Desktop icon in the taks bar.

To Exit NPIdentify Desktop
Click the "X" in the upper right hand corner of the NPIdentify Desktop window.

To Check for Updated Provider Data
NPIdentify Desktop is updated approximately every 30 days, based on the release of new NPPES data from CMS. You can click the "check for updates" button at the top of the window to visit the NPIdentify Desktop Updater/Extender Page, and check the date of the current release. If it is a later date than appears on the NPIdentify Desktop window, you should download the updated provider data. TIP: You can click on the green HotBox in any listing to check the CMS web site for up-to-the-minute information on a given provider.

Also, when your NPIdentify Desktop provider data is becoming outdated, a message box will pop up to warn you when you start the program.

It is important to remember that CMS releases new data approximately monthly, with the emphasis on the word "approximately." The release date seems to be different every month, often weeks later or earlier than truly "monthly." Check for updates frequently.

 

The Listings

 
These field descriptions appear in the orange header bar directly above the listings:

Click the HotBox in each listing (E above) to view the most up-to-date NPPES information available, directly from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) web site. You must have a default web browser enabled on your computer and internet access.

The information contained in the NPIdentify directory is produced and published monthly by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). NPIdentify assumes no liability for the accuracy or completeness of the data. For additional information, please read the complete disclaimer.

Click the links below for descriptions of the data fields. Note their locations in the legend at right.

A. Provider Name

B. Practice Phone

C. Practice Address

D. Practice Fax

E. HotBox - Click to jump to the provider's record on the CMS web site

F. Type - ORG (organization), F (female), M (male)

G. NPI Number

H. Legacy ID

I. Taxonomy Code

J. Taxonomy Description

K. Mailing Address

L. License, License State

M. Update Date

Some data elements contain more text than can be viewed within the space provided, but it's all there and it can easily be viewed. Just drag your cursor over the text to reveal the remaining information. In particular, this applies to the Provider Name and Taxonomy Description fields. The complete text is shown when printing or emailing a listing, and when copying a listing to the clipboard; there just wasn't enough room on the listings window.

   

Search

 

   

How Search Works


Matching is NOT case sensitive.

Search and Sort Tools (version 1.x):

There are four basic parts to NPIdentify Desktop's powerful search system, illustrated in the screenshot details at right:

  • Select the field to search in the orange heading bar
  • Select where to look (start of field or any part of field)
  • Type some text to look for in the Search Bar (matching is NOT case sensitive)
  • Click the Find button

The first record found will then show as highlighted in a nice salmony color. To go to the next record that matches your search text, click the Find button again (see, it now reads "Next"). (For a comparison of the Find and Sift operations, see below Find vs. Sift.)

In a nutshell, let's say you know the provider's first and last name: John Smith, MD, but you think it might be "Jon" Smith. Type smith, jo in the Search Bar and click Find. Okay, we found Joe Smith. So click again, and voila! Here he is: Smith, Jonathan Q., MD, MSW, DO, DDS. PDQ! (More on provider name search here.)

It's really just that easy, but you should read through the step-by-step instructions below for details and tips on searching each kind of field, how to use wildcards, etc.

TIP: For any of the operations below where you are instructed to click the Find button, you may click the Sift button instead (version 2 and above). Sift is different from Find, in that it limits the records displayed, and is useful for marking all records that match specific criteria; go here for details.

   

"Find" versus "Sift "

(version 2 and above)


 

 

In version 2.x of NPIdentify Desktop, there are two buttons on the right of the search box, labeled Find and Sift. The difference is simple... Find leaves all records in the database displayed, so you can scroll up and down through all the provider records in your state; Sift limits which records are displayed to just those which match youir search criteria. So, if you enter "smith" in the search bar, searching Provider Name, and click Sift, all of the listings that have "smith" in the Provider Name will be shown. This makes it much easier to compare multiple listings to determine which one is actually your desired listing.

TIP: Sift records for basic criteria, then mark them for printing or export. You can also mark all records in a sift.

   

Wildcards


You don't need to use wildcards for most simple searches. By selecting "any part of field" on the Where selector, NPIdentify treats all search text you enter as having the asterisk wildcard both before and after it. By selecting "start of field" on the Where selector, it treats all text as having an asterisk after it.

You can use the following standard wildcards in your NPI searches:

* (asterisk) - Any single character or multiple characters (letter, number or symbol)

? (question mark) - Any single character (letter, number or symbol)

# (number sign) - Any single number


Examples:

05/*/2005 returns all dates in May, 2005

Smith*, J returns Smith, John and Smith, Jerry and Smith-Clary, Jane

207R* returns all internal medicine taxonomy codes

#### S* Castro B returns all 4-digit addresses on South Castro Boulevard

   

Where In the Field to Look


Select the Where Options at the bottom of the Search Bar to choose whether to look for the text only at the start of the field, or anywhere in the field. See the example at left.

You can select whether to look for the text you entered in the Search Box in any part of the field, or just at the start of the field. Select the Where Options at the bottom of the Search Bar to choose whether to look for the text only at the start of the field, or anywhere in the field.

Example:

The search text "smith, j" found at only the start of the field will find "Smith, Jane MD" but NOT "McClary-Smith, Jane MD."

The search text "smith, j" found in any part of the field will find "Smith, Jane MD" and ALSO "McClary-Smith, Jane MD."

   

Search by Healthcare Provider Name


Click the option button beside Provider Name in the orange bar, and type your search text in the Search Bar. See the example at left.

Click the option button beside Provider Name in the orange bar. Type a fragment of the provider's name in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider matching your fragment, click the Find Button again, now labeled Next.

Many providers list a second, "other" name in their NPPES record. NPIdentify Desktop displays this other name immediately after the legal name in parentheses, i.e., "(aka Bana, Bob MD)." When you want to include the other name in your search, be sure to select "any part of field" in the Where options (see above).

Note that Provider Name may contain more text than can be viewed within the space provided; drag your cursor over the text to reveal the remaining text.

Example:

I want to find a physician named Josephine Y. Smith, MD. I search for the text fragment "smith, j" and NPIdentify Desktop brings up the first record matching that fragment (perhaps Smith, Jane O. MD).

TIP: To make it easier to compare search results, use the Sort by Provider Name feature, which will put the providers in alphabetical order where you can see the "Smith, J..." listings grouped together.

TIP: If you can't find Dr. Smith by searching for "smith, j", try typing just "smith" in the Search Box. She may be listed as a Type 2 provider using her organization's legal business name, i.e., "Josephine Y. Smith MD, LLC."

GOOD TO KNOW: As far as the NPI Final Rule is concerned, there are two fundamental types of healthcare provider. Type 1 is a human being (a provider with a face), while Type 2 is an organizational entity (a provider that's a place, more or less). So it is quite possible that Dr. Smith will have two NPI numkbers, and thus two records in NPIdentify Desktop: one for her face (Type 1), and another for her place (the legal business entity – LLC, corporation, etc. – that her practice is organized under).

   

Search by Provider Type

NPIdentify Desktop displays Type 2 Providers (a designation devised by CMS to indicate organizations, such as hospitals, as opposed to human persons) with the identifier "ORG" in red, to the right of the provider's name. Individual providers (Type 1), indicating a single human being, such as a physician) are indicated by their gender code (M or F) instead of ORG.

We can't think of very many reasons to use this feature, but we provide it in the interest of completeness. On the other hand, you might find it very useful to Sort by Type first, then Search by one of the other fields. In this way you can limit your view to organizations or persons, male or female, as you search.

To search by Type, click the option button beside Type in the orange bar. Enter ORG, M or L in the Search Box and click the Find Button. To find the next provider matching the Type, click the Find Button again, now labeled Next.

The Type 1 and Type 2 NPI designations are represented here as M or F (male or female) for Type 1 providers, and by ORG for Type 2 providers. See the "Good to Know" tip above.


Click the option button beside Type, and enter ORG, M or L in the Search Bar.
   

Search by NPI (reverse lookup)

If you know the provider's NPI number and want to view their details, click the option button beside NPI in the orange bar. Type an NPI number or fragment in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose NPI matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.


Click the option button beside NPI, and type the 10-digit number or a fragment in the Search Bar
   

Search by Provider Taxonomy

 

By Taxonomy Code

Click the option button beside Taxonomy in the orange bar. Type a provider taxonomy code or fragment in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose taxonomy code matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.

Click the option button beside Taxonomy, and type the 10-character code or a fragment in the Search Bar
   

By Taxonomy Description

Click the option button beside Taxonomy Description in the orange bar. Type a fragment (i.e., "denti" to find "dentist" or "dentistry") in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose taxonomy description matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next. Note that Taxonomy Description may contain more text than can be viewed within the space provided; drag your cursor over the text to reveal the remaining text.


Click the option button beside Taxonomy Description, and type a fragment in the Search Bar
   

Search by License

Click the option button beside License in the orange bar. Type a license number or fragment in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose license matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.


Click the option button beside LicenseState, License, and type a license or a fragment in the Search Bar

   

Search by Address

 

There is much variation in the way healthcare providers have entered their address information. If you cannot find an address by searching for full address, try typing just the first few numbers of the street number, and Sort By Address to view the search results grouped together, or Sort By Zip to show nearby addresses together. Note that addresses may contain more text than can be viewed within the space provided; drag your cursor over the text to reveal the remaining text.

Example:

Type "5810 " (the number and a space) to find:
5810 E. Skelly Dr., Suite 715, Tulsa, OK 74135-6453,
5810 E Skelly Drive, Ste 715, Tulsa, OK 74135-6453, or
5810 E. Skelly Dr., Suite 715, Tulsa, OK 74135-6453

TIP: You can also search by zip code. To find an address in a 5-digit zip, enter the state code followed by a space and the zip code. For a 9-digit zip, enter the full code including the hyphen (for instance, 74135-6453).

TIP: Sorting providers by zip code is a good way to view all nearby providers together.

Example:

Type "OK 74135" finds 74135-6453, 74135-0091, etc.

 

By Practice Address

Click the option button beside Practice Address in the orange bar. Type a fragment of the address in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose practice address matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.


Click the option button beside Practice Address, and type an address or a fragment in the Search Bar. See the example at left.
   

By Mailing Address

Click the option button beside Mailing Address in the orange bar. Type a fragment of the address in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose mailing address matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.

TIP: Sorting and searching by mailing address can be a useful way to identify provider organizations under common ownership (i.e. subparts of the same health system). However, because this field is free-form, and because unrelated organizations or individuals could, theoretically, receive mail at the same address, it should not be considered definitive.


Click the option button beside Mailing Address, and type an address or a fragment in the Search Bar. See the example at left.
   

Search By Phone or Fax Number

 

Practice Phone

Click the option button beside Practice Phone in the orange bar. Type a phone number or a fragment in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose practice phone matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.

TIP: If you cannot find a phone number that you believe is correct, Sort by Phone or Fax then type the area code followed by a hyphen followed by the exchange followed by a hyphen (leaving out the last 4 digits of the number) to find all numbers in the local telephone exchange, then browse using the scroll bar at the right of the NPIdentify Desktop window.

Example:

"918-392-" finds all providers with telephones in the 918 area code and the 392 exchange -- very likely to be nearby.

TIP: "918-392-3" (the area code, exchange and next digit) may narrow the search to the same professional building or group; Sort by Practice Phone may then show you the providers in a building or group.

 


Click the option button beside Practice Phone, and type a phone number or a fragment in the Search Bar. See the TIP at left.
   

Practice Fax

Click the option button beside Practice Fax in the orange bar. Type a fax number or a fragment in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider whose practice fax matches your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.

TIP: If you cannot find a fax number that you believe is correct, Sort by Practice Fax then type the area code followed by a hyphen followed by the exchange followed by a hyphen (leaving out the last 4 digits of the number) to find all numbers in the local telephone exchange, then browse using the scroll bar at the right of the NPIdentify Desktop window.


Click the option button beside Practice Fax, and type a fax number or a fragment in the Search Bar. See the TIP at left.
   

Search by Legacy ID

Click the option button beside Legacy ID in the orange bar. Type the legacy ID or a fragment in the Search Box, and click the Find Button. To find the next provider with a legacy ID matching your fragment, click the Find Button, now labeled Next.

NOTE: The NPPES database, and therefore NPIdentify Desktop, contains these identifiers for only a portion of providers. NPIdentify Desktop lists only the first three codes (of a possible 50 per provider) contained in the NPPES (except for UPINs, of which are included in NPIdentify Desktop). To get all of a provider's identifiers, you may want to consider our CarePrecise Select service.


Click the option button beside Legacy ID, and type an ID code or a fragment in the Search Bar.
   

Search by Update Date

Click the option button beside Updated in the orange bar. Type a specific date in the Search box, or use a fragment or wildcard search.

The Updated field is formatted with leading zeroes (i.e., 03/06/2008), so be sure to type them in your search date.

Examples:

2008 (with "any part of field" selected) will find only NPPES records created or updated in 2008.

06/##/2008 will find only NPPES records created or updated in June, 2008.


Click the option button beside Updated, and type a date or a fragment in the Search Bar, including leading zeroes in the format 01/08/2008.
   

Sort Order

 

   

How Sort Works

"Sort" means to put the listings in order. In NPIdentify Desktop, this means alphabetical or numerical order, depending on the kind of data that is in the field you choose to sort by. You can sort by any of the fields in NPIdentify Desktop, plus practice address zip code and mailing address zip code.

Sort is a very important tool, because you will want to look at more than one record at a time – see them side-by-side so to speak – in order to compare them and make sure you've found the correct provider. For instance, you can search the Provider Name field for smith, j to find "Smith, Jane MD" and then sort Type to just show the female "smith, j" physicians (Jane, Jasmine, Josephine, etc.) in the listings.


Search and Sort Tools
   

Sort by Provider Name

To order listings alphabetically by Provider Name, click the up/down arrow beside Provider Name in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Provider Name
   

Sort by Provider Type

To order listings alphabetically by Type, click the up/down arrow beside Type in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Type
   

Sort by NPI Number

To order listings alphabetically by NPI, click the up/down arrow beside NPI in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of NPI
   

Sort by Provider Taxonomy

 

By Taxonomy Code

To order listings alphabetically by Taxonomy, click the up/down arrow beside Taxonomy in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Taxonomy
   

By Taxonomy Description

To order listings alphabetically by Taxonomy Description, click the up/down arrow beside Taxonomy Description in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Taxonomy Description
   

Sort by License

To order listings alphabetically by License, click the up/down arrow beside License, License State in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of License, License State
   

Sort by Address

 

By Practice Address

To order listings by Practice Address, click the up/down arrow beside Practice Address in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Practice Address
   

By Mailing Address

To order listings by Mailing Address, click the up/down arrow beside Mailing Address in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Mailing Address
   

Sort by Zip Code

 

By Practice Zip Code

To order listings by Practice Zip Code, click the up/down arrow beside Practice Zip Code in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Practice Zip Code
   

By Mailing Zip Code

To order listings by Mailing Zip Code, click the up/down arrow beside Mailing Zip Code in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Mailing Zip Code
   

Sort By Phone or Fax Number

 

Practice Phone

To order listings by Practice Phone, click the up/down arrow beside Practice Phone in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Practice Phone
   

Practice Fax

To order listings by Practice Fax, click the up/down arrow beside Practice Fax in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Practice Fax
   

Sort by Legacy ID

To order listings alphabetically by the Legacy ID field, click the up/down arrow beside Legacy ID in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Legacy ID
   

Sort by Updated Date

To order listings alphabetically by the date a listing was most recently updated, click the up/down arrow beside Updated in the orange bar. Click again to sort in descending order.


Click on the arrows to the right of Updated
   

Output (print, email, export)

 
   

Output a Single Listing

 

Using the Email, Copy or Print buttons below the search bar you can output the currently selected single listing.

To select a listing, just click anywhere on the record .

The Email button opens the Email window, displaying the selected listing as the message of the email. Type in the email address(es) you want to send to, and click the Send button.

The Copy button copies the selected listing to the clipboard. The listing can then be pasted into any program that supports Windows copy and paste operations.

The Print button sends the selected listing to the Windows default printer. See your Windows documentation for instructions on setting the Windows default printer.

 

   

Output Multiple Listings

(version 2 and above)


The View Marked Listings window (version 2 and above):

Outputting multiple listing requires you first to mark one or more listings that you would like to print, email or export, then view the marked listings in the View Marked Listings window, then click the Print, Email or Export button.

Mark Listings

In the main NPIdentify Desktop window, check the box at left of the provider name on those listings that you want to print, email or export as a group. All marked listings will appear in the View Marked Listings window when you click the View button.

Mark All Records - To mark all listings that are currently displayed in the main window (includes listings that show only when scrolled), click the checkmark icon at left in the orange bar. This is useful when you have used the Sift button to limit displayed listings to those which match search criteria, such as all providers within a zip code.

 

Unmark Listings

You can unmark a single listing by clicking the checkbox at left of the record to remove the checkmark from the box.

Unmark All Records - To unmark all marked listings, click the View button to display the View Marked Listings window, then click the Unmark All button.

 

Print Multiple Listings

Once you have marked the records you want to print as described above, click the View button below the search bar to display the View Marked Listings window, then click the Print button. All marked listings will be sent to the Windows default printer. See your Windows documentation for instructions on setting the Windows default printer. You can print a maximum of 50 listings at one time (additional marked listings will not be sent).

 

 

Email Multiple Listings

Once you have marked the records you want to email as described above, click the View button below the search bar to display the View Marked Listings window, then click the Email button. The Email window opens. Type in the email address(es) you want to send to, and click the Send button. The Email window uses the Windows default email client. See your Windows documentation for instructions on setting the Windows email client (Outlook, Outlook Express, Lotus, etc.). You can email a maximum of 50 listings at one time (additional marked listings will not be sent).

 

 

Export Multiple Listings

Once you have marked the records you want to export as described above, click the View button below the search bar to display the View Marked Listings window, then click the Export button. Listings will be exported as a Comma Separated Values (CSV) file, suitable for opening with Microsoft Excel® or import into a wide range of applications. You will find the exported file in the same directory as your NPIdentify Desktop software, usually C:\Program Files\NPIdentify, with the current date and a random number as part of the filename. Subsequent exports will not overwrite previous exports. You can export a maximum of 50 listings at one time (additional marked listings will not be sent).

 

 
   

Data Details

 
   

Disclaimer

 

The data contained in NPIdentify is sourced from data contained in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) and other US federal sources obtainable under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and provided monthly by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. federal government. Included are provider listings for the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Neither NPIdentify, its parent company CarePrecise, nor its partners and advertisers are responsible for the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) data contained in its directories. The data was submitted to the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Enumerator by healthcare providers themselves, and those listings are taken as-is from the NPPES database distributed by CMS, exactly as uploaded by the healthcare providers. CMS, not NPIdentify, has made the determination regarding what information would be available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and CMS alone has determined which data to make publicly available. No warranty is expressed or implied as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information presented here. If you are a provider and wish to update your NPPES record, visit the NPPES provider update site at this link. Neither NPIdentify nor its parent company CarePrecise has any way of updating your information. The availability of the CMS web site via embedded links, and the information contained therein, are outside our control.

Click here for an updated message from CMS regarding the current NPPES data file, which was used in the development of the NPIdentify Desktop products. HITTG endeavors to work around the numerous challenges tossed down by CMS, and often, the issues that are the subject of these CMS messages have been dealt with.

For detailed information about the NPPES system, review the NPPES web pages.

   

State NPI Directories

 

These state National Provider Identifier directories are prepared by NPIdentify using publicly available information supplied by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). Healthcare providers can add themselves to the database or update their information at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/ at any time. CMS has committed to providing updated output on a monthly basis, and HITTG updates NPIdentify Desktop with each CMS data release.

NPIdentify Desktop directories are compiled by Practice State.

NPIdentify Desktop's listings are compiled from up to 37 separate data points, including 34 separate NPPES elements and three taxonomy description elements.

For detailed information on the data contained in the NPPES database, review this document from CMS.

   

Provider Name

 

Provider Name is the first field listed in each NPIdentify Desktop listing, at the upper left corner in bold type.

NPIdentify Desktop displays the provider's organization legal business name for Type 2 providers (organizations), and the provider's last name, first name, middle name, suffix (Jr, III, etc.) and credentials (MD, DO, etc.) for Type 1 providers (individual human beings).

Full legal business names, as entered by the organizational (Type 2) providers themselves, are displayed, including any misspellings or typographical errors. No liberties have been taken with the data as provided by CMS.

Individual provider (Type 1) names are displayed in the following format:

[Last Name], [First Name] [Middle Name] [Suffix] [Credentials]

Many providers have listed a second, "other" name in their NPPES record. NPIdentify Desktop displays this other name immediately after the legal name in parentheses, i.e., "(aka Bana, Bob MD)." When you want to include the other name in your search, be sure to select "any part of field" in the Where options (see here).

Example:

Smith, Joseph Yelena Jr. MD (Type 1 Provider Name)

Saint Vincent Mercy Hospital Outpatient Clinic of Southern Wassapottamie County (Type 2 Provider Name)

Banacconoya, Robert K. MD (aka Bana, Bob MD) (Provider with an "other" name listed)

Not all name fields were entered by all providers.

NPPES Fields: Provider Organization Name (Legal Business Name); Provider Last Name (Legal Name); Provider First Name; Provider Middle Name; Provider Name Suffix Text; Provider Credential Text; Provider Other Organization Name; Provider Other Last Name; Provider Other First Name; Provider Other Middle Name; Provider Other Name Suffix Text; Provider Other Credential Text

   

Provider Type

 

Type is listed to the right of the Provider Name in the top line of each NPIdentify Desktop listing, just to the right of the green box.

NPIdentify Desktop displays Type 2 Providers, a designation devised by CMS to indicate organizations, such as hospitals, as opposed to human persons, with the identifier "ORG" in red. Individual providers (Type 1), indicating a single human being, such as a physician, are indicated by their gender code (M or F).

Examples:

ORG (Type 2 provider)

M (Male Type 1 provider)

F (Female Type 2 provider)

NPPES Fields: Entity Type Code; Provider Gender Code

   

NPI Number

 

NPI is listed in light blue at about the center of the top line in each NPIdentify Desktop listing.

The National Provider Identifier (NPI) number is a unique ten-digit numerical code assigned by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services in the provider enumeration process. NPIdentify Desktop displays the NPI number in bold blue-green type.

Example:

1234567890 (NPI number)

NPPES Fields: NPI

   

Provider Taxonomy

 

Provider Taxonomy is a a code that describes a type of healthcare facility or practitioner’s specialty or subspecialty.

 

Taxonomy Code

 

Taxonomy is listed to the right of the blue-green NPI number in the first line of each NPIdentify Desktop listing.

NPIdentify Desktop lists the provider's 10-character Primary Taxonomy Code if available. If the Primary is not entered by the healthcare provider, NPIdentify Desktop lists the Taxonomy Code which was entered in the first position (among up to 15 Taxonomy Codes) by the healthcare provider. NPIdentify Desktop displays Primary Taxonomy Codes in black text; others are displayed in gray text.

Examples:

123456789X (Primary)

123456789X (Other)

NPPES Fields: One or more of the following: Healthcare Provider Taxonomy Code_[1-15]; Healthcare Provider Primary Taxonomy Switch_[1-15]

Taxonomy Description

 

Taxonomy Description is listed to the right of the Taxonomy Code in the first line of each NPIdentify Desktop listing.

The description is provided as a convenience, and to facilitate searches by text that might be found in a description, such as "chiropractor" or "acupuncturist." We've added abbreviated descriptive text to indicate the code's position in the hierarchy of the code set. Please refer to the authoritative Taxonomy Code Set for specifics and complete information.

This is the CMS authoritative source on the taxonomy topic: https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Help.do?topic=Taxonomy

 
   

License

 

The healthcare provider's licensing state and license number, if available, is displayed at the top left of each NPIdentify Desktop listing.

CMS does not require a license number for all Taxonomy codes, so this field may be blank. Also, CMS has chosen to redact numbers that look like tax identifiers (EIN, SSN or ITIN), in which case they may replace the value with special characters, such as equal signs, dollar signs, or asterisks, respectively. Such policies are subject to change, and are completely under the control of CMS.

The NPIdentify format is License (State)

Example:

D12345 (WI)
Example shows a fictitious Wisconsin license

NPPES Fields: One or more of the following: Provider License Number_[1-15]; Provider License Number State Code_[1-15]

   

Address

 

The NPIdentify Desktop address fields each have five parts:

[First Line of Address], [Second Line of Address (if given)], [City], [State] [Postal Code]

Please note that providers are permitted to enter essentially anything they want in some mof these fields, and the NPPES data reflects this decision on the part of CMS.

Provider organizations have the option to obtain a separate NPI for each location where they do business. However, this is NOT a requirement, and the NPPES database allows only a single Practice Address to be listed. Therefore, a multi-facility provider may have only one NPI with just one of those locations listed as Practice Address.

 

Practice Address

 

The address of the healthcare provider's practice, displayed in black at left on the second line of the listing.

Example:

5810 E. Skelly Dr., Suite 715, Tulsa OK 74135-6453

For details on the practice address, refer to https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Help.do?topic=PracticeAddress

NPPES Fields: Provider First Line Business Practice Location Address; Provider Second Line Business Practice Location Address; Provider Business Practice Location Address City Name; Provider Business Practice Location Address State Name; Provider Business Practice Location Address Postal Code

Mailing Address

 

Mailing address for the healthcare provider, displayed in light brown following the Practice Address on the second line of the listing.

Example:

5810 E. Skelly Dr., Suite 715, Tulsa OK 74135-6453

For details on the mailing address, refer to https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Help.do?topic=MailAddress

NPPES Fields: Provider First Line Business Mailing Address; Provider Second Line Business Mailing Address; Provider Business Mailing Address City Name; Provider Business Mailing Address State Name; Provider Business Mailing Address Postal Code

   

Phone and Fax Numbers

 

Practice Phone and Fax numbers are displayed at left on the last line of NPIdentify Desktop listings.

Practice phone numbers are in black, and Practice Fax numbers are in purple.

These are formatted: [3-digit Area Code]-[3-digit Exchange]-[4-digit Number]

Examples:

918-555-0000 (Practice Phone Number)

918-555-1111 (Practice Fax Number)

 

Practice Phone Number

 

The healthcare provider's practice telephone number.

NPPES Fields: Provider Business Practice Location Address Telephone Number

Practice Fax Number

 

The healthcare provider's practice fax number.

NPPES Fields: Provider Business Practice Location Address Fax Number

   

Legacy ID

 

Where healthcare providers entered other identifiers into their NPPES record, NPIdentify Desktop display them in light blue in the last line of the listing. The types of legacy IDs ("Other Identifiers") displayed by NPIdentify Desktop include:

Other Identifier Type Abbreviation
Other Other
Medicare UPIN UPIN
Medicare ID-Type Unspecified Munsp
Medicaid Mcd
Medicare OSCAR/CERTIFICATION OSCR+
Medicare NSC NSC
Medicare PIN PIN

Example:

UPIN: D12345 / Other: 567890 (MN) / Mcd: 1234567 (MN)
Example shows a UPIN, an unspecified other ID issued in or for Minnesota,
and a Medicaid ID for Minnesota

Please note that NPIdentify Desktop must rely on the data supplied by the providers themselves or their authorized officials, and the data they have supplied can get pretty dicey. And, as in other locations throughout the NPPES database, efforts have been made (not by us but by CMS) to suppress social security numbers and tax identification numbers, which results in the curious redactive strings you see in the data (for instance, $$$$$$$$$, *********, or =========).

NPPES Fields: Other Provider Identifier_[1-3]; Other Provider Identifier Type Code_[1-3]; Other Provider Identifier State_[1-3]

   

Update Date

 

The most recent date on which the healthcare provider updated its NPPES record is displayed in the lower right corner of the listing. Note the leading zeroes when searching this field.

Example:

05/23/2009

NPPES Fields: Last Update Date

   

Other Useful Information

 

 

National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES)
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Welcome.do

CMS / NPPES Privacy Information
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/StaticForward.do?forward=static.privacy.info

Search the CMS NPI Registry
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/NPIRegistryHome.do

CMS Data Dissemination Policy and Information
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/06a_DataDissemination.asp

CMS Information on FOIA-Disclosable Data Elements
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/Downloads/NPPES_FOIA_Data%20Elements_062007.pdf

CMS NPI Webpage
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/01_Overview.asp

Updating Your NPI Data or Applying for a New NPI
http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/03_apply.asp (general information)
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/StaticForward.do?forward=static.npistart (web form and documentation)
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/Help.do (Help with online application, including field-specific descriptions and constraints)

NPI Posts on the HIT Transition Weblog
http://blog.hittransition.com/npi_national_provider_id/

   

Installing Your First NPIdentify Desktop

(Go here for instructions on installing updates or additional states)

 

System Requirements

OPERATING SYSTEM: Windows 2000, XP or Vista, the most recent service packs. If Microsoft Office is installed on the computer, the most recent service packs of Office should also be installed for email integration features.
PROCESSOR: 1.6GHz minimum; 2.3GHz or dual core recommended.
MEMORY: 1GB RAM, more recommended, especially for the more populous states such as California, New York, Florida, Texas, and Illinois.
HARD DRIVE SPACE: Dependent on size of state database; California is the largest, while Wyoming is quite small. Additional hard drive space is required for each state directory installed. See the estimated storage requirements beside the download links.
MONITOR: 1024 x 768 pixels or greater is recommended.
MOUSE: Keyboard (accessibility) shortcuts are not supported for all functions.
EMAIL CLIENT: Optional: If you wish to send provider information from within the software you will need an email address and an email program (such as Outlook) configured as your default email program.


 

1. Select Your Product. If this is your first installation of NPIdentify Desktop on this computer, find the version for your state here. If you are updating, or installing another state, you can do it much faster by downloading the much smaller package here, but ONLY if you have already successfully installed a previous NPIdentify Desktop Package on this computer.

 

2. Your Information. You will be asked to provide your email address, name and some other information (see our privacy policy here). If you have already established a login at our online store, you may simply login using the email address and password you gave when you made your first order.

 

3. Checkout. Confirm your order. You will be taken to a payment options page where you can choose to use Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express credit card, PayPal account or check by mail. After paying, you will arrive at the NPIdentify Desktop Download Button (except for the check by mail option; we will issue a download link after your check is received).

 

4. Download and Install. Click the download button, and when the download dialog appears, select Save (not Open), and save the file to any folder on your computer.

To avoid your download timing out (failing to complete, or it "expires"), be sure you are: 1) Using a broadband internet connection, and 2) Not trying to download while your computer or your internet connection is busy doing something else, like watching videos, download Outlook email, etc. (these are BIG files). Also, you may have difficulty downloading large files over a wireless connection.

When the download has completed, extract the files into any temporary folder. Click the Start button in the task bar and select Run. In the Run window, browse to the folder where you extracted the files, and select setup.exe. Click OK to begin installation. (If you do not have an unzip utility, go here to download 7-Zip, a free open source unzip utility.)

If during the installation process on your computer you get an error message informing you that the setup program could not find the NPIdentify Desktop MSI file, browse to the folder where you extracted the program, and double-click the file named NPIdentifyDesktop_[your state].msi.

 

5. Follow Installation Wizard. Follow the instructions in the NPIdentify Desktop installation program. It will create a new program shortcut in your Start | All Programs menu, and a new shortcut on your desktop. After installation you may delete the contents of the temporary folder to conserve disk space (optional).

   

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The data contained in NPIdentify is sourced from data contained in the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) and other US federal sources obtainable under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and provided monthly by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), an agency of the U.S. federal government. Included are provider listings for the 50 U.S. states, District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. Neither NPIdentify, its parent company CarePrecise, nor its partners and advertisers are responsible for the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) data contained in its directories. The data was submitted to the National Provider Identifier (NPI) Enumerator by healthcare providers themselves, and those listings are taken as-is from the NPPES database distributed by CMS, exactly as uploaded by the healthcare providers. CMS, not NPIdentify, has made the determination regarding what information would be available under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), and CMS alone has determined which data to make publicly available. No warranty is expressed or implied as to the accuracy, completeness or timeliness of the information presented here. If you are a provider and wish to update your NPPES record, visit the NPPES provider update site at this link. Neither NPIdentify nor its parent company CarePrecise has any way of updating your information. The availability of the CMS web site via embedded links, and the information contained therein, are outside our control.

 

 

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