CMS extends NPI deadline.

Physicians and other providers who fail to comply with the May 23 deadline to acquire and start using a National Provider Identifier will not be penalized if they can show they deployed a "contingency plan," the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services announced. "Covered entities that have been making a good faith effort to comply with the NPI provisions may, for up to 12 months, implement contingency plans," said CMS Acting Administrator Leslie Norwalk in a statement. The agency decided to create this grace period after it became clear that many entities would not be able to fully comply by the original deadline, she said. The new compliance guideline can be downloaded from the agency's Web site (http://www.cms.hhs.gov/National-ProvIdentStand) and explains what is considered a "good faith effort."