The Board voted in March to begin collecting National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers, as well as information about sliding fee scale participation, for all primary care physicians and psychiatrists licensed by NCMB. The Board approved this change at the request of the NC Office of Rural Health and Community Care, which needs NPI numbers to determine areas of the state that qualify as federal Health Professional Shortage Areas (HPSA) – parts of the state that have shortages of primary care physicians, psychiatrists or dentists. Up-to-date NPI data will help ensure the state’s continued participation in the federal National Health Service Corp (NHSC) loan repayment program, which awarded $5.6 million in loan repayments to physicians and other medical and dental professionals who provide care to underserved populations in the state.

NCMB will collect NPI numbers via the online annual renewal questionnaire beginning in late May.