NPI (National Provider Identifier)
An NPI (National Provider Identifier) is the unique 10-digit number every US healthcare provider and organization uses on claims, prescriptions, and clinical documents — issued free by CMS through the NPPES registry.
- 10-digit identifier issued free by CMS via NPPES
- Type 1 for individual clinicians; Type 2 for organizations
- Required on claims, e-prescriptions, and superbills
- Publicly searchable in the NPPES registry
Type 1 vs Type 2
Type 1 NPIs identify individual clinicians — each physician, NP, or PA carries theirs for life, across every employer. Type 2 NPIs identify organizations: medical groups, pharmacies, labs. A telehealth encounter typically involves both — the individual prescriber’s Type 1 on the prescription, the medical group’s Type 2 on the superbill or claim.
Where NPIs show up in a telehealth program
Everywhere paperwork meets a clinician: e-prescriptions route with the prescriber’s NPI, superbills require it for reimbursement, payer credentialing keys on it, and the NPPES registry makes every NPI publicly searchable — which patients and pharmacies use to verify who treated them. Programs onboarding clinicians should verify NPIs against NPPES as a basic credentialing step.
Compliance handled, so you can build
Lithos runs the clinicians, pharmacies, and 50-state rules behind your care program — one API.
Frequently asked questions
Does every telehealth clinician need an NPI?
Yes — any clinician who prescribes or whose care generates billing documents needs a Type 1 NPI, and the medical group needs a Type 2.
Is an NPI the same as a medical license?
No — the NPI is an identifier, not a credential. Licensure is state-by-state; the NPI is national and never changes.
Can patients look up an NPI?
Yes — the NPPES registry is public, listing name, specialty, and practice information for every NPI holder.