The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced on April 2, 2007, that a contingency plan would be implemented by the agency for covered entities that will not meet the May 23, 2007, deadline for compliance with National Provider Identifier (NPI) regulations under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).

All providers and health plans, except small health plans, were required by the final rule establishing the NPI to be in compliance with its provisions by May 23 of this year. But the enforcement guidance released April 2 says that covered entities that have been making a good faith effort to comply with the NPI provisions may implement contingency plans for up to 12 months under certain conditions.

CMS decided to announce the contingency guidance after it became clear that many covered entities would not be able to comply by the May 23 deadline. More information is available at http://www.cms.hhs.gov/.