NPI & Taxonomy Code Update

National Provider Identifiers (NPIs) allow healthcare providers, including Advanced Practice Registered Nurses (APRNs), to bill Medicare and Medicaid for services provided to patients. While RNs cannot typically bill for services, they can still register for an NPI. Creating an NPI not only helps advocate for transparency in paying for nursing care but also has the potential to transform how healthcare employers engage RNs, ultimately benefiting patients and the nursing profession. The ANA published a position statement encouraging all members, including RNs, to obtain an NPI.
 
Additionally, WOCN has sent a letter to the National Uniform Claim Committee asking that they include taxonomy codes specific to wound care for all levels of nursing. Taxonomy codes allow healthcare providers to self-identify their specialty through a unique 10-character alphanumeric code. These codes are categorized into three distinct levels: Provider Grouping, Classification, and Area of Specialization.
 
The current coding system fails to recognize the nuanced nature of wound care management, which spans across multiple physician specialties, including plastic surgery, podiatry, and emergency medicine. The lack of dedicated taxonomy codes for wound medicine for all levels of providers has far-reaching implications. Currently, the only code available to nursing is for RNs, excluding our advanced practice members. WOCN is advocating for the inclusion of taxonomy codes that would allow every level of practice to identify as a wound care specialist.