Matthew James White MD: Find His NPI Number

Hey everyone! Today, we're diving deep into something super important for healthcare professionals and anyone navigating the medical world: National Provider Identifier (NPI) numbers. Specifically, we're going to focus on how to find the NPI number for Matthew James White MD. If you're a patient looking for information about Dr. White, or perhaps a fellow medical practitioner needing to verify his credentials, knowing his NPI is key. This number is essentially a unique 10-digit identification number issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to all health care providers in the United States. It's used for administrative and billing purposes, and it ensures that providers are properly identified in all healthcare transactions. Think of it as a digital fingerprint for doctors, dentists, and other healthcare professionals. It's a crucial piece of information that streamlines healthcare operations and helps maintain data integrity. We'll walk you through the process, making it as straightforward as possible, so you can get the information you need without any hassle. It’s a vital tool for transparency and efficiency in the healthcare system, guys, so let's get started!

Why is an NPI Number So Important, Anyway?

Alright, let's get into the nitty-gritty of why this Matthew James White MD NPI number quest is even a thing. The NPI system was established by the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA). Before the NPI, healthcare providers used a variety of unique identifiers, which often led to confusion and inefficiency. The NPI was created to standardize this identification process. For starters, it's mandatory for all healthcare providers who engage in electronic transactions – think billing insurance companies, submitting claims, or electronic health record (EHR) exchanges. Without a valid NPI, these transactions simply can't happen. This is a huge deal for any practicing physician like Dr. Matthew James White. Furthermore, the NPI makes it easier for patients to search for and verify the credentials of their healthcare providers. In an age where you want to be sure you're seeing a legitimate and qualified professional, having a publicly accessible NPI database is a massive win. It also helps in preventing fraud and abuse within the healthcare system by ensuring that only legitimate providers are identified and reimbursed. So, whether you're a patient trying to confirm Dr. White's status or a healthcare organization needing to process a claim, his NPI is the golden ticket. It’s also essential for researchers looking to track healthcare trends and outcomes, and for public health officials monitoring the healthcare landscape. The standardization brought about by the NPI has significantly reduced administrative overhead for healthcare organizations, allowing them to focus more on patient care rather than wrestling with complex identification systems. It’s truly the backbone of electronic healthcare data exchange in the US.

How to Find the Matthew James White MD NPI Number

Okay, so you're looking for the Matthew James White MD NPI number, and you're wondering where to start. Don't sweat it, finding this information is usually pretty straightforward thanks to the public nature of the NPI registry. The primary and most reliable way to find a doctor's NPI number is by using the official NPI Registry search tool provided by CMS. You can access this online through the National Plan and Provider Enumeration System (NPPES) website. It's a free service, and it's updated regularly to ensure accuracy. When you go to the NPPES website, you'll typically find a search function where you can enter the provider's name. For Dr. Matthew James White, you would input his first name, last name, and potentially his middle name or initial, along with his professional designation (like 'MD'). You can also narrow down your search by entering his city, state, or zip code if you have that information, which can be really helpful if there are multiple doctors with the same or similar names. Once you perform the search, the system will display a list of matching providers. You'll need to look for the entry that specifically corresponds to Matthew James White, MD. Each result will show key details, including the NPI number, practice address, and sometimes even other identifying information. It's crucial to double-check the details to ensure you've found the correct Dr. White you're looking for. Sometimes, you might find multiple listings if he practices in different locations or has affiliations with various organizations. In such cases, cross-referencing with other known information, like a specific clinic's address or phone number, can help you pinpoint the exact NPI you need. This registry is the definitive source, so always start here for the most accurate information, guys!

What Information You'll Need for the Search

To make your search for the Matthew James White MD NPI number as smooth as possible, having a few key pieces of information ready will really speed things up. The most basic requirement is, of course, the provider's full name. For Dr. White, this would be Matthew James White. If you know his middle name or initial, that's even better, as it helps differentiate him from other physicians who might share the same first and last name. Next, knowing his professional title, such as 'MD' (Doctor of Medicine) or 'DO' (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine), is super helpful. This helps confirm you're looking for a medical doctor and not someone else with a similar name in a different profession. If you have any information about his practice location, like the city and state, or even the specific clinic name where he practices, that's a golden ticket. This is especially useful if there are multiple doctors named Matthew James White. The more specific you can be, the faster and more accurate your search results will be. Sometimes, you might even be able to search by his Taxonomy Code, which is a standard code that classifies the type of healthcare provider he is (e.g., cardiology, pediatrics, general surgery). While you might not always have this readily available, it's a powerful search parameter if you do. Lastly, if you happen to have any previous billing information or insurance documents where Dr. White's name appears, those might contain his NPI number directly, though the primary goal here is to find it through the official registry. But having these details at your fingertips will definitely make navigating the NPI database a breeze. It's all about being prepared, you know?

Navigating the Official NPI Registry

So, you've decided to dive into the official NPI Registry to find that elusive Matthew James White MD NPI number. Awesome! Let's talk about how to navigate this digital playground like a pro. The CMS NPI Registry is hosted on the NPPES website, and it's designed to be user-friendly, but a little guidance never hurts. Once you land on the search page (a quick search for "NPI Registry" or "NPPES NPI search" should get you there), you'll see fields for entering provider information. The most common search method is by name. You'll want to input 'Matthew' in the first name field, 'White' in the last name field, and 'James' (or 'J') in the middle name field. If you're unsure about the middle name, try searching with just the first and last name first, and then refine if needed. Adding 'MD' or the relevant professional suffix in the name fields might sometimes help, but it's usually best to keep the name fields clean and use the provider type filters if available. You can also filter by location (city, state, zip code) if you know it. This is highly recommended if you suspect there might be multiple Dr. Whites out there. For instance, if you know he practices in New York City, adding 'New York' and 'NY' to the location fields will significantly narrow down the results. Once you hit the search button, a list of potential matches will appear. Each entry will display the provider's name, address, phone number, and, most importantly, their NPI number. You'll need to carefully review the details – the address and practice specialty are usually good indicators to confirm you've found the correct Matthew James White, MD. It's also worth noting that some providers might have multiple NPIs if they have different practice locations or affiliations, but usually, one will be designated as their