Every individual that provides health care services as defined by the Federal Regulation is required to secure an NPI number. 

The Centers of Medicare and Medicare Services (CMS)  categorized healthcare professionals and health care providers into two categories:

1. Type 1
2. Type 2

People are referred to as ‘Type 1’.  People will only have one NPI for life.

Organizations are referred to as ‘Type 2 ’.  Organizations can have more than one NPI.