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UPIN/NPI/DEA numbers
- Thread starter docny
- Start date
docny said:Can anyone brief me on obtaining UPIN/NPI/DEA numbers or this is usually the hospital/practice headache that you go to?
DEA #
http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drugreg/index.html
Pretty straightforward I believe it costs something like $220. And 'gasp', you might encounter usually friendly and helpful goverment employees (after years of dealing with USCIS, I thought that there is no such thing). The person to talk to if there are issues with your app is the 'field registration technician' for your area. If you don't yet have a medical license in that state, the application is put on a shelf and might not make it back into the process until you call. They confirm your licensure with the medical board, so if you are still in the process it can take a while.
The NPI to my knowledge will supplant the UPIN. I believe the UPIN is issued when you apply for medicare the first time. I don't know whether that is the same with the NPI. But it looks like you can just apply for one independently (not everyone takes medicare).
https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov/NPPES/StaticForward.do?forward=static.npistart
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docny said:thanks Hadron
Do you suggest I do these things on my own or an employer will do these for me after the contract.
Typically, your employers office manager or a credentialing service hired by the practice will do these things. Also, at least for the DEA there is some expense involved. So leaving it to the practice makes sense because for them it is a pre-tax expense, you have to pay it out of your post-tax residency stipend (you might be able to claim it if you itemize your taxes, but why have the outlay in the first place).
Is there an advantage to doing them on my own even if I join a practice or a hospital.
Well, it is kind of neat to come to ta prospective employer having all your ducks in a row, but it is common for the practice to do all these things in the months before you join.
Second, are they (DEA/NPI/UPIN) State specific?
The 'U' in UPIN stands for universal, the 'N' in NPI for national. So, no, these numbers will stay with you for the rest of your professional life in the US.
Your DEA number will reflect the region it was applied from. But if you change states later, your number will remain the same (unless someone starts writing scripts with a stolen DEA on your name and you have to change yours).
Upin/dea/npi
First thing u do is to get the license of the concerned state,because without that u wont get any of the above funny numbers.
NPI-- https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov check this site and u will have to register here to get this number. Its necessary that all providers should have this number by 2007. ( Free)
UPIN-- it come automatically when u fill the application form for medicare/medicaid as a provider. ( Free) wait till u start the job
DEA-- u can apply online for this number, just make sure if u need the local DEA number for ur state of practice, some state like SC require that.so until u get a state DEA, the federal will not issue u a DEA no. all these numbers require u to have license first. DEA takes 2-3 weeks to come. (around 500USD for federal and state DEA)
Talk to ur employer if u are lucky they might shell out the money.
First thing u do is to get the license of the concerned state,because without that u wont get any of the above funny numbers.
NPI-- https://nppes.cms.hhs.gov check this site and u will have to register here to get this number. Its necessary that all providers should have this number by 2007. ( Free)
UPIN-- it come automatically when u fill the application form for medicare/medicaid as a provider. ( Free) wait till u start the job
DEA-- u can apply online for this number, just make sure if u need the local DEA number for ur state of practice, some state like SC require that.so until u get a state DEA, the federal will not issue u a DEA no. all these numbers require u to have license first. DEA takes 2-3 weeks to come. (around 500USD for federal and state DEA)
Talk to ur employer if u are lucky they might shell out the money.
ferdie said:just make sure if u need the local DEA number for ur state of practice, some state like SC require that.so until u get a state DEA, the federal will not issue u a DEA no.
Some states require you to have a DEA before they issue the state controlled substances registration, the DEA on the other hand won't issue # until you have the state registration (seems like a chicken-egg conundrum). In reality, you just apply for both at the same time, and the local DEA person checks with the state controlled substance office and they issue both at the same time.
all these numbers require u to have license first. DEA takes 2-3 weeks to come.
Yes, you need a license for these numbers to be issued. Bu you can apply for the DEA before you have a license. That way, they can already run the background check, post your payment etc. Once you have a license, you call up the local DEA office and they can issue the number (and fax it to your office) within a day or two.
And why is all this important, not that you need to prescribe any narcotics months before you start your job. But most insurance plans use the DEA as one way to confirm that you actually exist and that you haven't committed any major felonies in the last couple of years. So if you have these numbers before you start the job, your admin can get you credentialed for all these insurers which improves the collections during the ramp-up phase of your practice.
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