BTW, back in horse and buggy days all we had was a "Medicare billing number". In 1993 CMS created the DMERCS (now referred to as the DME MACS) and invented the UPIN numbers for physicians. Then CMS decided every supplier needed their own identifying number so the created the NPI numbers. But the NPI numbers are not a secure number because they are openly available to anyone on the internet via the NPI registry. Thus, when a supplier calls a contractor they must provide NPI, PTAN and last four of their TIN or they do not pass go. CMS has been struggling with creating an anti-fraud system for decades. Personally, I'd like to see each provider have two numbers. The NPI would be public and given to referals for billing purposes and a second number would be private, never given to anyone for the purpose of that provider billing their claims.
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