NPPES Digital Contact Information

What is it and how you can comply with the CMS rule

The 2020 CMS Interoperability and Patient Access Rule mandated a centralized directory of providers’ digital contact information be published by the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) to improve interoperability and the efficiency and effectiveness of electronic health information exchange.

While providers are encouraged to enter digital contact, or endpoint, information in NPPES to promote health care interoperability, the information is not required to obtain an NPI. However, CMS stated in the 2020 Rule that it would begin publicly posting a list of providers who do not include an endpoint in their NPPES listing. That list is now available at https://data.cms.gov/provider-compliance/public-reporting-of-missing-digital-contact-information.

To ease the administrative burden on larger health care organizations, NPPES also enabled bulk upload in the registry. An explanation of bulk uploading as well as answers to other frequently asked questions related to digital endpoints is available at https://www.cms.gov/about-cms/obrhi/faqs#118.

Adding a secure endpoint to your NPPES listing is simple and allows other providers to contact you and share data in a HIPAA compliant manner. Multiple secure endpoint types were approved by CMS, including Direct Secure Messaging.

If you need an inexpensive, HIPAA-compliant endpoint, etHIN Direct allows providers to securely receive CMS-required Hospital Event Notifications, exchange referrals and patient PHI, and have secure one-to-one communication with other health care providers. Contact etHIN today at 865-691-8433, ext. 1, or email info@ethin.org to learn more about etHIN’s simple, cost-effective way for you to comply with the 2020 CMS Rule and make your digital contact information available in the NPPES directory so you can securely communicate with other providers about your shared patients.