Graduation season is upon us, and from all of us at Holistic Billing congratulations!
Every year around this time, the phone calls pour in at Holistic Billing HQ with newly minted practitioners. A frequent question is what are the steps to accepting insurance. Wether you are fresh-out-of-school or looking to add insurance to an existing practice the first thing you need to do is apply for your NPI.
Healthcare providers in the United States are required to have a unique government issued NPI number to bill insurance.
Why do I need the NPI?
In order to be paid by any insurance company, your NPI must be used on claims forms as your form of identification.
Where do I apply for my NPI?
You'll want to go to the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) and apply for your unique identifier
Medicare doesn’t pay for acupuncture or massage therapy is the NPI for Medicare claims only?
No. The NPI is your identifier for all health insurance plans; both public and private.
I have a solo practice, but have incorporated my practice. Do I need both the individual NPI and an NPI for the practice?
In this case, the corporation and the individual therapist should each have an NPI. Your state license number should appear on the individual application. The corporate application should include the number associated with the corporate entity, such as the tax identification number. It is not necessary to include your state license number on the application for the corporate NPI. You must apply for each NPI separately, and you will be asked to create a profile for each type of application on the NPPES Web site.
Where can I get more help and information about the NPI?
Visit the CMS Web site for more information. This resource now includes a training package, a Powerpoint presentation, and a good selection of frequently asked questions. In addition, you may call the NPPES directly, at: 800-465-320
Are you interested in learning more insurance billing tips? Visit our blog!
