Unique Identifiers Overview
HIPAA establishes and requires unique identifiers for:
- Employers – EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is issued by the Internal Revenue Service and is used to identify employers in electronic transactions.
- Providers – NPI, or National Provider Identifier, is a unique 10-digit number used to identify health care providers.
- Health plans – There is no longer an adopted standard to identify health plans.
- Patients – There is no adopted standard to identify patients.
NPIs and EINs must be used on all HIPAA transactions.
Keep Up to Date!
Sign up for Administrative Simplification Email Updates and follow us on Twitter
Page Last Modified:
04/25/2022 02:33 PM