Navigating the complex field of Medicare is a challenge for both patients and medical providers. Continued advances in medicine continuously change the rules and regulations behind Medicare. Obtaining a provider transaction access number (PTAN) is necessary for all health care providers who provide services to Medicare patients. This identifier is used to bill Medicare for medical services provided. Without a PTAN number medical provider billings to Medicare will be rejected and returned.
Instructions
Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN)
1. Obtain the necessary application forms to apply for a Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN). PTAN application forms can be obtained by directly contacting the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) at (800) 465-3203. Applications can also be completed and submitted online through the NPPES website (see Resources).
2. Gather all information required to complete your PTAN application prior to completing the online application process. Once the application has been started you are unable to quit from the form or save any information entered on the application until you have completed the required forms.
3. Determine your health provide taxonomy code number. The taxonomy code is used to identify precisely what type of health care provider category that you are applying for. These codes are specialized according to group or individual provider, type of practitioner and subspecialty (see Resources.)
4. Create an National Provider Information (NPI) user ID. This ID will permanently connected with your PTAN information and cannot be changed once it has been entered. The ID cannot contain more than four digits.
5. Determine a password for your NPI account. The password should consist of 8 to 12 characters that contains at least one character and one number. The user ID and password cannot be the same. The system will not accept any special characters in the user ID or password
6. Submit five secret questions and answers to be entered into the NPI system. This information will be used to retrieve necessary log-on information in case it has been forgotten. Choose questions you are likely to remember for a long period of time, these questions and answers will be permanently tied to your NPI user ID.
7. Complete the necessary medical provider application forms to obtain a PTAN Medicare number. The NPI system and PTAN number is only for the use of health care providers. Use the information on your prepared lists to fill in details on the application. This application is relatively straightforward and should only take around 20 minutes to complete.
8. Double check the information you entered on your PTAN application for accuracy. Inaccurate information will lead to delays in receiving your PTAN number.
9. Wait for Medicare to review the credentials and information that you have submitted. PTAN numbers will not be issued until all credentials are correct and currently up to date.
10. Receive your new PTAN identifier from Medicare and start a billing relationship with Medicare insurance and Medicare patients.
Tags: your PTAN, application forms, health care, PTAN application, PTAN number, Transaction Access