The National Provider Identifier (NPI): What You Need to Know <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/NPIBooklet.pdf> Booklet is Now Available for Download! The Administrative Simplification provisions of the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) mandated the adoption of a standard, unique health identifier for each health care provider. The NPI Final Rule, published on January 23, 2004, established the NPI as this standard. Covered entities under HIPAA are required by regulation to use NPIs to identify health care providers in HIPAA standard transactions. This booklet contains information previously available in NPI fact sheet and tip sheets and can be found at: (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/NPIBooklet.pdf <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/downloads/NPIBooklet.pdf> ).
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- There's still time to get the seasonal flu shot! Although influenza activity has declined recently, it still may continue for several months.[1] <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchange/Lisa.Smith/Drafts/RE:%2520January%2520Minimum%2520Data%2520Set%2520(MDS)%25203.0%2520Information%2520Update.EML/1_text.htm%23_ftn1> The Centers for Disease Control continues to recommend that patients and health care providers and caregivers be vaccinated against seasonal influenza. CMS encourages health care providers to use each office visit as an opportunity to talk with Medicare your patients about the importance of getting a seasonal flu shot. And remember, it is also important to immunize yourself and your staff. Remember - Seasonal influenza vaccinations and their administration are covered Part B benefits. Note that influenza and pneumococcal vaccines are NOT Part D covered drugs. For information about Medicare's coverage of the seasonal influenza virus vaccine and its administration, as well as related educational resources for health care professionals and their staff, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/MLNProducts/Downloads/flu_products.pdf> ) on the CMS website. You will find a variety of resources that explain Medicare coverage and claims submission policies related to the seasonal influenza vaccine. For information on Medicare policies related to H1N1 influenza, please go to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1 <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/H1N1> ) on the CMS website. __________________ [1] Seasonal Influenza (Flu). [online]. Atlanta, GA: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, January 19, 2010 [cited 21 January 2010]. Available from the World Wide Web: (http://www.cdc.gov/flu <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cdc.gov/flu> ) ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Note: If you have problems accessing any hyperlink in this message, please copy and paste the URL into your Internet browser. If you received this message as part of the All FFS Providers listserv, you are currently subscribed to one of eighteen Medicare Fee-For-Service provider listservs. If you would like to be removed from all NIH listservs, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/LISTSERV_WEB/signoff.htm <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://list.nih.gov/LISTSERV_WEB/signoff.htm> ) to unsubscribe. If you would like to unsubscribe from a specific provider listserv, please go to (https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/show_list_archives <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=https://list.nih.gov/cgi-bin/show_list_archives> ) to unsubscribe or to leave the appropriate listserv. Please DO NOT respond to this email. This email is a service of CMS and routed through an electronic mail server to communicate Medicare policy and operational changes and/or updates. Responses to this email are not routed to CMS personnel. Inquiries may be sent by going to (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ContactCMS <https://webmail.hhs.gov/exchweb/bin/redir.asp?URL=http://www.cms.hhs.gov/ContactCMS> ). Thank you.
