Bethesda, MD (July 1, 2015) - We are writing to communicate an important development for our field.   HFSA applied to the National Uniform Claim Committee (NUCC) for a provider taxonomy code to designate specialists in advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.  This request was approved for release on July 1, 2015, and will take effect October 1, 2015.

The definition is as follows:

Specialists in Advanced Heart Failure and Transplant Cardiology would participate in the inpatient and outpatient management of patients with advanced heart failure across the spectrum from consideration for high-risk cardiac surgery, cardiac transplantation, or mechanical circulatory support, to pre-and post-operative evaluation and management of patients with cardiac transplants and mechanical support devices, and end-of-life care for patients with end-stage heart failure.

A provider taxonomy code is used for many purposes, including the following:

• Categorize providers in a provider directory
• Apply for an NPI for a health care provider (as defined by HIPAA)
• Identify a provider in electronic transaction(s)
• Identify a provider for reimbursement purposes
• Identify provider practice focus and/or education/training for provider enrollment in health plans
• Identify course area of specialization of education/training at accredited post-secondary educational institutions
• Identify course area of specialization of continuing education offered by established CEU program sponsors
• Identify providers in local, regional or national health information exchange networks
• Identify providers in public health-related data transactions

The provider taxonomy code is an important step on the path toward securing a Medicare specialty designation for advanced heart failure and transplant cardiology.

For more information on the new provider taxonomy code, see here.