Skip to site content
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)

Identifier Standards

HIPAA established a standard for unique national provider, employer and health plan identifiers and requirements concerning their use by health plans, healthcare clearing houses, and healthcare providers. These unique identifiers must be used among other uses, in connection with certain electronic transactions.

National Provider Identifier

  • National Provider Identifier (NPI) Final Rule Published - The Final Rule adopting the HIPAA standard unique health identifier for health care providers was published in the Federal Register on January 23, 2004. Health care providers can begin applying for NPIs on the effective date of the final rule, which is May 23, 2005. All health care providers are eligible to be assigned NPIs; health care providers who are covered entities must obtain and use NPIs. All HIPAA covered entities must use NPIs by the compliance dates (May 23, 2007 for all but small health plans; May 23, 2008 for small health plans). Final rules maintained at CMS Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov .

National Employer Identifier

The Health Insurance Portability & Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) requires that employers have standard national numbers that identify them on standard transactions. The Employer Identification Number (EIN), issued by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), was selected as the identifier for employers and was adopted effective July 30, 2002.

More information can be found for the implementation of the rule at the CMS website.Exit Disclaimer: You Are Leaving www.ihs.gov