CMS is announcing the availability of a single National Provider Identification (NPI) instead of multiple ones for each health plan. This is an attempt to make electronic healthcare transactions smoother. Application for NPI’s will begin May 23rd, 2005. How to get one is detailed in the letter above and is expected to be complete by 2007. There is a web application to apply here but the letter says not to try it until May 23rd. Thanks to Thurman Pedigo for this link. Editor’s note: I did just apply so the link is operational, but I do not recommend anyone doing impulsive news editor type things like that.