If you live outside the USA, you can ignore this post.
HIPAA's original purpose was *not* to provide confidentiality, altho the
privacy sections are the portions most of us are now familiar with. HIPAA's
original Congressioanlly-mandated purpose was to streamline the processing
of health care claims and paperwork.
The requirement that everyone "get a number" is to fit into this new, more
stream-ined process. You obtain a number that you take with you "for life,"
no matter how often you change jobs.
This matters most to private practice lactation consultants *who rely on
insurance company payments.* Not all of us go that route, because (frankly)
it isn't very lucrative. But getting a number is free, and someday my
practice may change, so I will have my number ready. It takes just a few
minutes to get this number on line; go to www.nppes.cms.hhs.gov
If the hsopital where you work is billing out for IBCLC services, you have
probably been asked by your institution to get a number. This may be very
much a "work in progress" for us IBCLCs, even the hospital-based ones, as
the manner in which lactation consultation services are reimbursed changes
from institution to institution.
To quote from the HHS site:
"If you are a health care provider who bills for services, you probably need
an NPI. If you bill Medicare for services, you definitely need an NPI!
Getting an NPI is easy. Getting an NPI is free. The first step is to get
your NPI. If you delay applying for your NPI, you risk your cash flow and
that of your health care partners as well.
"As outlined in the Federal Regulation, The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA), covered providers must also share their
NPI with other providers, health plans, clearinghouses, and any entity that
may need it for billing purposes."
For more from HHS, see http://www.cms.hhs.gov/nationalprovidentstand/
Liz Brooks, JD, IBCLC
Wyndmoor, PA, USA
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