What Is an NPI Number?
An NPI, or National Provider Identifier, is a 10-digit ID number for covered health care providers, used in billing and other standard transactions. CMS says the number itself carries no other information, such as a state or specialty. It doesn't show that a doctor is licensed, or anything about the quality of care.
What an NPI Is
CMS describes the NPI as a unique identification number for covered health care providers. Covered providers, health plans and clearinghouses must use it in the administrative and financial transactions covered by HIPAA. It has 10 digits, and CMS calls it "intelligence-free": the digits don't carry other information about the provider.
This guide explains how to find and check care. It can't tell you which doctor or treatment is right for you. Your doctor or plan can.
Where to Look One Up
The NPI Registry is the public lookup. You can search by name, or by number if you have it. Every released doctor page here shows the NPI under Background, with a link to that doctor's own registry record.
What It Can't Tell You
- A license. To check one, use the state medical board.
- Quality. Having an NPI says nothing about how good a doctor is.
- New patients or plans. The registry doesn't say who is taking new patients or which plans a doctor accepts.
- A current phone number, for certain. Registry details are self-reported and can be old. On how we get our data, we publish how often our records and the registry match.
Common Questions
Can a doctor opt out of the public NPI list?
CMS says active NPI data can't be opted out at the government source. A doctor can still ask us to remove a page from this site.
Do I need a doctor's NPI to make an appointment?
Usually not. Offices book by name. Ask the office if a form asks for it.
Does one doctor have one NPI?
Our pages use one NPI as one doctor's permanent ID, with all the offices listed for it in the CMS file.