To satisfy HIPPA requirements, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has adopted the National Provider Identifier (NPI). Healthcare providers are being assigned a unique 10-digit number for use when filing claims with government agencies and private health plans.

NPI Requirement
Blue Cross requires NPIs-only on claims: NPI is required for all transactions with us, paper or electronic, regardless of network participation. Providers must notify us of NPI(s) before they file claims with their NPI.

• We cannot receive notice of your NPI through a claim.  
• If you have notified us of your NPI, you must file claims with your NPI or with both your NPI and taxonomy number.  
• If you do not notify us of your NPI in advance, any claims filed, regardless of having an NPI or both an NPI and taxonomy number, will be rejected.

Providers who apply to join our network(s)' or undergo recredentialing, regardless of network participation, are required to list their NPI on their applications. If the NPI is not included, the processing of the application will be delayed until we receive the NPI. See your provider office manual for more on NPIs and claims filing.

Apply for an NPI

NPIs are issued by the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). All healthcare providers, including physicians, suppliers, hospitals and others, are eligible for NPIs.

If desired, you may also submit a paper application or have an organization apply for an NPI on your behalf through Electronic File Interchange (EFI). CMS offers more information about these options.

We cannot apply for or assign an NPI for you.

Notifying Blue Cross
Use the Provider Update Form when you receive your NPI. It may also be included on your Louisiana Standardized Credentialing Application (LSCA), Health Delivery Organization (HDO) Application or our Recredentialing Application. If you wish to submit your NPI by mail, you can use the forms below.

• Individual NPI Update Form [PDF]
• Facility NPI Update Form [PDF]

We will not accept notification of your NPI on claim forms.

More Information
View CMS' NPI educational resources to learn more. Included are general information, application instructions, EFI process details, subpart information and other important fact sheets.

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