The Centers for Medicare, Medicaid Services recently announced physicians National Provider Identifier (NPI) data would be made publicly available online via a searchable database.

Although CMS originally planned to unveil the NPI lookup tool on June 28, the agency has decided to delay the launch to allow physicians and other covered entities additional time to ensure that their information is accurate before it is disclosed by CMS.

Covered entities can review their information at the NPI enumerator's website, https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov. The deadline to make any changes is this Monday, July 16.

The online lookup will return NPIs and relevant demographic information, but it will not disclose Social Security numbers, dates of birth, or IRS taxpayer identification numbers, according to CMS.

Contact: CMA's Reimbursement Help Line, 888/401-5911.