The Deadline to delete sensitive information from your NPI data is July 16. Some information that may be included in the database is your social security or tax ID number which is used as your provider number by some carriers.  All NPI data in the data base as of July 17 will be made available to the public on August 1, 2007. 

If you are reviewing your information, please make note of your taxonomy code (which for TX EM physicians is 207PE0004X) and make any necessary changes. The dropdown menu first lists – Allopathic. After making that selection, an additional dropdown menu allows you to select Emergency Medicine – Emergency Medical Services.  

Please find below the message from the TMA outlining this problem and how to proceed in making any necessary changes. 

Dear Dr.  

Don’t delay.

Physicians have until Monday, July 16, to purge "optional information" such as DEA numbers and fax numbers from the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System before the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) makes it public information by posting it on its Web site Aug. 1. For step-by-step removal instructions, see the TMA Web site.

Information to be posted includes all the data that you may have provided on your National Provider Identifier (NPI) application. This may include your name, NPI, medical license number, DEA number, business mailing addresses, and telephone and fax numbers. The data will be made available in an initial downloadable file with monthly update files also downloadable, and in a query-only database allowing users to query by NPI or provider name. Physicians' Social Security and tax ID numbers and their dates of birth will not be released. CMS says the federal Freedom of Information Act requires release of the information.

You can delete data elements that you provided on your NPI application that are considered optional, including your DEA number, but you must do that by Monday, July 16.

The Texas Medical Association and the American Medical Association have urged Health and Human Services Secretary Michael Leavitt to reconsider the decision to provide easy public downloads of a database of physician identifying information. "This immense data release will significantly increase the chances that physicians will become the victims of health care fraud, overwhelming marketing campaigns, and even identity theft," I wrote in a letter to Secretary Leavitt.

NPI data available to member physicians in TMA's NPI Resource Center are protected because they are behind the Members Only firewall of the TMA Web site. Plus, we provide only the minimum amount of information necessary for physicians and their office staff to ensure that they are obtaining the NPI for the desired referring colleague: name, address, and specialty.

Please share this e-mail message with your colleagues and act today to make sure that you delete all that you can before the massive CMS data release. 

Sincerely,

William W. Hinchey, MD
President
Texas Medical Association