Question

Joseph Smith, an internal medicine physician in California, has a phone number with the area code 858. What is his National Provider Identifier (NPI) number?

a. A unique 6-digit number
b. A unique 9-digit number
c. A unique 10-digit number
d. A unique 12-digit number

Answer 1

An NPI number is a unique 10-digit identifier assigned to healthcare providers in the United States, not related to their phone number or area code.

Step-by-step explanation:

The National Provider Identifier (NPI) is a unique identification number for covered health care providers under the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). The correct answer to the question is c. A unique 10-digit number. An NPI is a 10-digit numeric identifier.

It is independent of other personal information, such as the state of practice, provider type, or the provider's phone number with a specific area code. Therefore, Joseph Smith's phone number area code of 858 does not determine his NPI number.