It’s stressful to go to the doctor. You’re worried about your weight, or blood pressure, or whatever ailment may run in your family. Some people even have real phobias of seeing medical professionals.
What if you are new to an area, or just need to find a new doctor? How can you make sure that the doctor you’ve found by asking around, or by looking on google is legitimate?
One resource is to make use of a doctor’s physician NPI number. Keep reading for more details on what this means.
What Is A Physician NPI Number?
NPI stands for National Provider Identifier and is a 10-digit number that is used to identify health care providers in the United States.
It is a standardized way to keep track of health care providers under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (or HIPAA).
It is required for medical providers to have this number, and it is permanent regardless of employer, job, or location. The number is a sure way to correctly identify a doctor or other medical professional wherever they may be working.
The number itself doesn’t give any information about location or specialization. It can’t, after all, since the number is permanent, and a person may change areas of practice or move to another state.
Before NPIs, there were other identifiers, but now that this standardized system is in place, it is easier to use among different locations and levels of care.
Who Must Have an NPI Number?
Any HIPPA-covered medical provider needs to apply and receive this number.
This includes doctors, nurses, physician’s assistants, dentists, physical therapists, nurse practitioners, pharmacists, residential treatment employees, and even medical supply workers.
So, virtually any medical professional that you want to vet will have this number if they are a legitimate provider.
The provider will also need to have an NPI for the organization. So, you can verify both the legitimacy of the medical office as well as each worker individually.
How Can You Find Some a Provider’s Number?
You can search online for a medical provider’s NPI number. The search portal is easy to use and always up-to-date. These numbers are required by law and are public information, but have not always been easy to access.
This easy website search portal makes that an easy and quick task with reliable results.
What Can It Tell You?
The NPI number primarily lets you know that the provider is a legitimate healthcare provider. It allows you, the insurance companies, the providers to work together more efficiently.
It won’t tell you if you’ll like the doctor or nurse or give specific reviews.
But, if you do not see a number associated with the doctor you’re considering, you will know that he or she is not a good option.
Check The Number
Checking the physician NPI number can give you one less thing to worry about! You’ll know that the person has gone through the proper channels and is qualified to give medical care. Before you go to the doctor or dentist next, check out their NPI number.
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