Beginning on May 22, 2008, physicians who remit claims or other transactions electronically must use their National Provider Identifier (NPI); new legacy numbers will not be permitted on any electronic commercial or public claims after that date. Medicare will also require all paper billers to use the NPI after this date.

Medicare has been taking interim steps to prepare for the May 2008 deadline and recently announced that effective March 1, 2008, physicians will not be permitted to submit claims with the new legacy identifier only. Rather, between March 1 and May 22, Medicare will only accept claims with just a physician’s NPI or a combination of their NPI and the legacy identifier. Medicare has announced it will host a NPI Roundtable conference call on February 6, 2008.

More details will be communicated to AASM members when they are available.