Unique Identifiers Overview

HIPAA establishes and requires unique identifiers for:

• Health plans – HPID, or Health Plan Identifier, is a standard, unique identifier for health plans 
• Employers – EIN, or Employer Identification Number, is issued by the Internal Revenue Service and is used to identify employers in electronic transactions 
• Providers – NPI, or National Provider Identifier, is a unique 10-digit number used to identify health care providers
• Patients – There is no adopted standard to identify patients

NPIs and EINs must be used on all HIPAA transactions.

Enforcement Discretion

There is currently an enforcement discretion period for HPID until further notice, which was effective October 31, 2014. This enforcement discretion applies to all HIPAA-covered entities.