Data Dissemination Notice

CMS has published the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) Data Dissemination Notice on May 30, 2007.

• NPPES health care provider data that are required to be disclosed under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) will be made publicly available on June 28, 2007, 30 days after the publication date of the Notice.
• The FOIA-disclosable data will be made available in an initial file downloadable from the Internet, with monthly update files also downloadable from the Internet, and in a query-only database whereby users can query by NPI or provider name.
• The Notice encourages health care providers who have been assigned NPIs to review their NPPES data at this time and make any necessary updates or corrections prior to the end of the 30-day period to ensure that their information is accurate when disclosed by CMS. (Health care providers who are covered entities under HIPAA are required by regulation to update their NPPES data within 30 days of any change.)
• The Notice states that health care providers who wish to delete any NPPES data that was not required to be furnished in order to obtain an NPI may do so prior to the end of the 30-day period if they prefer that those data not be disclosed by CMS.