How would a provider, health plan, or health care clearinghouse obtain the EIN of an employer for use in electronic health care transactions?
Health care providers, health plans, or health care clearinghouses would obtain an employer s EIN directly from the employer. The proposed rule would require an employer to disclose its EIN, upon request, to any entity that conducts standard electronic transactions that require that employer s identifier. The authority to require this disclosure is implicit in HIPAA s directive to the Secretary to adopt an employer identification number for use in the health care system. We have identified no reason for an employer to refuse to furnish the number. The EIN, unlike the Social Security Number, is not information about a person. EINs are not considered private and they may be freely exchanged by employers and others.
Related Questions
- May a health care provider disclose protected health information to a health plan for the plans Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS)?
- May a health care provider disclose protected health information to a health plan for the plan’s Health Plan Employer Data and Information Set (HEDIS)?
- Has the Internal Revenue Service agreed to the use of the EIN as the standard employer identifier for use in electronic health transactions?
