UPDATED: OWCP Requirement for Billing NPI

Effective August 24, 2024, providers will be required to submit billing NPI when billing for services provided to injured or ill workers for the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP). Professional and institutional bills submitted without the billing NPI after August 24,2024 will be denied.

Note: Providers are strongly encouraged to submit the billing taxonomy.

Billing NPI is not required for OWCP bills submitted from providers such as non-medical vendors, fiscal intermediaries, and non-emergency transportation.

  • 33 Contract Medical Consultant
  • 41 Contract Nurse
  • 43 Taxi
  • 44 Public Transportation & Private Transportation
  • 53 Non-Medical Vendor
  • 55 Vocational Rehabilitation (Training, Tuition and Schools)
  • 56 Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor
  • 57 Rehabilitation Maintenance
  • 58 Assisted Re-employment
  • 59 Relocation Expenses
  • 61 Second Opinion Contractor
  • 80 Pay-to-Intermediary
  • 89 Federal Facility (VA Hospital)
  • 94 Boarding House
  • 95 Insurance Company (Third Party Carriers)
  • 97 Billing Agent
  • 98 Lien holder

Online Bill Entry (web portal direct data entry): Refer to the Direct Data Entry Billing Tutorial for instructions and examples.

Mail (paper form): Refer to the billing instructions for each claim form by visiting the OWCP Forms and References page and selecting the OWCP Program (DCMWC, DEEOIC, or DFEC).

Additional Reminders:

For the Health Insurance Claim Form (OWCP-1500):

  • Enter billing information in Box 33. Billing provider NPI must be entered in Box 33a. Enter billing taxonomy in Box 33b.
  • Be sure to enter your OWCP Provider ID in Box 33 per the form instructions. Do not enter your 9-digit billing OWCP provider ID using Box 33b.
  • Enter servicing facility information in Box 32. Enter servicing facility NPI in Box 32a and servicing facility taxonomy in Box 32b.
  • Enter servicing (rendering) provider information in Box 24J. Enter servicing (rendering) NPI in the unshaded area of Box 24J and servicing (rendering) taxonomy in the shaded area of Box 24J.

For Uniform Health Insurance Claim Form (OWCP-04):

  • Billing provider NPI must be entered in Box 56. Enter billing taxonomy in Box 81CCa.
  • Enter attending (servicing) provider NPI in Box 76 and attending (servicing) taxonomy in Box 81CCb.

For ADA Dental Claim Forms:

  • Billing provider NPI should be entered in Box 49. Enter billing taxonomy in Box 52a.
  • Enter treating (servicing) NPI in Box 54 and treating (servicing) taxonomy in Box 56a.

EDI (HIPAA 837s): Refer to the updated 837 Companion Guide.

  • 837 file segment details for billing provider NPI and taxonomy
    NPI or Taxonomy 837 File Segment
    NPI Loop – 2010AA
    Segment – NM1
    NM108: Identification Code Qualifier = XX (REQUIRED)
    NM109: Identification Code Qualifier = NPI (REQUIRED)
    Taxonomy Loop – 2000A
    Segment – PRV
    PRV01: BI (Billing)
    PRV 01 is required if PRV loop is present
    PRV02: PXC (Qualifier for taxonomy code)
    PRV02 is required if PRV01 is present
    PRV03: Provider taxonomy code
    PRV03 is required if PRV02 is present
    Example: PRV✽BI✽PXC✽207Q00000X~
  • 837 file segment details for servicing provider NPI and taxonomy
    Claim Type Location NPI or Taxonomy 837 File Segment
    Professional/Dental Header NPI Loop: 2310B — RENDERING PROVIDER NAME
    Segment: NM1✽82
    NM108: Identification Code Qualifier = XX
    NM109: NPI
    NM109 is required when NM108 is available
    Example : NM1✽82✽1✽DOE✽JANE✽C✽✽✽XX✽1234567804~
    Taxonomy Loop: 2310B - RENDERING PROVIDER SPECIALTY INFORMATION
    Segment: PRV
    PRV01: PE (Performing)
    PRV01 is required if PRV loop is present
    PRV02: PXC (Qualifier for taxonomy code)
    PRV02 is required if PRV01 is present
    PRV03: Provider taxonomy code
    PRV03 is required if PRV02 is present
    Example: PRV✽PE✽PXC✽1223G0001X~
    Line NPI Loop: 2420A — RENDERING PROVIDER NAME
    Segment: NM1✽82
    NM108: Identification Code Qualifier = XX
    NM109: Identification Code Qualifier = NPI
    NM109 is required when NM108 is available
    Example: NM1✽82✽1✽DOE✽JANE✽C✽✽✽✽XX✽1234567804~
    Taxonomy Loop: 2420A — RENDERING PROVIDER SPECIALTY INFORMATION
    Segment: PRV
    PRV01: PE (Performing)
    PRV01 is required if PRV loop is present
    PRV02: PXC (Qualifier for taxonomy code)
    PRV02 is required if PRV01 is present
    PRV03: Provider taxonomy code
    PRV03 is required if PRV02 is present
    Example: PRV✽PE✽PXC✽208D00000X~
    Institutional Header NPI Loop: 2310A - ATTENDING PROVIDER NAME
    Segment: NM1✽71
    NM108: Identification Code Qualifier = XX
    NM109: Identification Code Qualifier = NPI
    NM109 is required when NM108 is available
    Example: NM1✽71✽1✽JONES✽JOHN✽✽✽✽XX✽1234567891~
    Taxonomy Loop: 2310A - ATTENDING PROVIDER SPECIALTY INFORMATION
    Segment: PRV
    PRV01: AT (Attending)
    PRV01 is required if PRV loop is present
    PRV02: PXC (Qualifier for taxonomy code)
    PRV02 is required if PRV01 is present
    PRV03: Provider taxonomy code
    PRV03 is required if PRV02 is present
    Example: PRV✽AT✽PXC✽208D00000X~

Messaging will appear on your remittance voucher to alert you of any NPI or taxonomy information that is missing or does not match your provider file.

For questions, contact our Call Center at the applicable phone number listed below, where a representative will be happy to assist you.

Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC):
1-800-638-7072

Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC):
1-866-272-2682

Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC):
1-844-493-1966

OWCP Enhancement to Upload Bill Attachments

Effective October 05, 2024, the Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) providers will have the ability to add supporting documentation using the Workers’ Compensation Medical Bill Processing (WCMBP) portal for “In Process” bills. Adding attachments before the final adjudication of the bill allows providers to provide additional information to aid in bill approval, reducing the need for adjustments.

Providers can view this option on the WCMBP portal under Bill Inquiry and then navigating to the Bill Detail page. If a bill status is “In Process,” then the View/Add Attachment button will be available at the top left of the page.

Providers can select the button to upload attachments. More than one attachment is allowed. Each attachment cannot exceed 10 MB.

Please note that if the bill has been finalized, adding attachments is no longer allowed. This error message will appear upon attempting to upload attachments: “The bill processing is complete and additional attachments cannot be added.” In this case, the provider can refer to the final bill adjudication on the Remittance Voucher to determine whether to submit an adjustment for paid or partially paid bills or to resubmit for denied bills.

Refer to the Direct Data Entry Billing Tutorial or the Bill Adjustment Tutorial for instructions and examples.

For questions, contact our Call Center at the applicable phone number listed below, where a representative will be happy to assist you.

Division of Coal Mine Workers' Compensation (DCMWC):
1-800-638-7072

Division of Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation (DEEOIC):
1-866-272-2682

Division of Federal Employees' Compensation (DFEC):
1-844-493-1966