CMS Publishes Data Dissemination Notice – Physicians and staff are encouraged to review the notice and their data

The long awaited data dissemination information for NPI numbers and other matters has finally been published in the Federal Register. The Notice describes the policy by which CMS will make certain NPPES health care provider data (including NPI numbers) available to covered entities under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and to others. The data will be made publicly available on June 28, 2007, 30 days after the publication date of the Notice. The data will be made available in an initial file downloadable from the Internet, with monthly update files also downloadable from the Internet, and in a query-only database whereby users can query by NPI or provider name. Providers are encouraged at this time to make any necessary updates or corrections prior to the end of the 30-day period to ensure their information is accurate when disclosed by CMS. An advance copy of the Notice is available on the CMS Web site: http://www.cms.hhs.gov/NationalProvIdentStand/Downloads/DataDisseminationNPI.pdf