Introduction: The National provider Identifier (NPI) Registry is a free public directory of all active National Provider Identifier (NPI) records. It includes each provider's name, practice address, phone number, and taxonomy (specialty). DrFirst uses the NPI Registry to verify provider information. NPI Registry profiles must be accurate and current for successful registration, identity verification, and uninterrupted prescribing.
Audience: Providers and Practice Admins
Why Your NPI information matters for e-prescribing
DrFirst cross-references NPI Registry data to:
- Enable registration – Provider profiles must match the NPI Registry before registration is complete
- Send identity proofing invites – Identity proofing (IDP) and EPCS invites cannot be sent if the provider's profile doesn't match their NPI Registry information
- Prescribe without interruptions (especially for controlled substances)– Providers cannot prescribe if their information changes and no longer matches the NPI Registry. Name changes are a common cause of prescribing blocks. The registry must be updated first, then their DrFirst account synced to match.
What DrFirst requires from the NPI Registry
These fields in the provider's account profile must exactly match the NPI Registry:
- First name
- Last name
- State
- Medical license number
Before registering a provider: Verify their NPI Registry information is current and matches what you'll enter in their DrFirst e-prescribing profile.
Visit the NPI Registry Public Search and search for the provider's NPI record using their name or NPI number. Review:
- Legal name (first and last)
- State(s) where they hold a medical license
- License number(s)
- Primary practice state
If a provider's information in the NPI Registry needs to be updated:
Step 1: Provider updates the NPI Registry
The provider may update via their information through the National Plan & Provider Enumeration System (NPPES). The online application is the fastest method.
What the provider should update:
- Legal name (first and last)
- Primary practice state
- State license number(s) for all states where you practice
- Primary specialty (taxonomy)
- If the provider has both primary and secondary specialties, they should update their primary specialty (taxonomy) to the one you would like DrFirst to recognize.
Step 2: Wait for processing DrFirst receives NPI Registry updates each Sunday and applies them the following Wednesday (earliest). Allow for this processing time before attempting to register the provider or update their profile.
Step 3: Complete registration or send identity proofing (IDP) invite Once the update has processed (after the following Wednesday), you may register the provider and send them an IDP or EPCS invite.
Issue: Cannot send identity proofing invite to provider - SuperNPI error
What this means: The provider's DrFirst profile information doesn't match their NPI Registry information.
How to fix it:
- Verify which field(s) don't match (first name, last name, state, or license number)
- Provider updates their NPI Registry through NPPES
- Wait for processing (Wednesday of the following week at earliest)
- Retry sending the identity proofing invite
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Issue: Provider cannot prescribe after a name change
What this means: The provider's legal name in the NPI Registry no longer matches their DrFirst profile. This is a common block to prescribing controlled substances after a name change.
How to fix it:
- Provider updates their legal name in the NPI Registry
- Wait for processing (Wednesday of the following week at earliest)
- Select Submit a reguest in the help center to create a support ticket.
- Include the provider's current name and details
- Ask DrFirst Support to sync the provider's account(s) with the updated NPI information and update e-prescribing profile(s)
- Provider can resume prescribing once the account is synced
The provider may contact the NPI Enumerator for assistance with applications or updates:
- Phone: 1-800-465-3203
- TTY: 800-692-2326
- Email: customerservice@npienumerator.com
For assistance with DrFirst registration or account syncing after updating NPI information, contact [DrFirst Support/link].
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