Glossary / PTAN
PTAN Provider Transaction Access NumberPTAN (Provider Transaction Access Number)
Your Medicare enrollment number, assigned when enrollment is approved and tied to your NPI; used to authenticate with the MAC, not submitted on claims.
A Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) is the Medicare-specific number assigned when a provider or supplier's enrollment is approved. It is sometimes called the Medicare legacy number or, for DME suppliers, the NSC number. It is linked to your NPI and is what the MAC uses to recognize you in its systems.
For DMEPOS suppliers, enrollment and PTAN issuance are handled by the National Provider Enrollment contractors, NPE East (Novitas) and NPE West (Palmetto GBA), which replaced the National Supplier Clearinghouse. The DME MAC does not issue PTANs; its role begins once you are enrolled. A supplier can hold more than one PTAN, for example for separate enrolled locations.
The PTAN does not go on claims; only the NPI does. Where you use it is authentication: the MAC portal, the interactive voice response line, and written correspondence with the MAC. It also matters for the prior authorization exemption, which the DME MACs calculate per PTAN and jurisdiction. If a PTAN is deactivated or revoked, claims stop paying and the MAC may issue an overpayment demand.
Common questions
Where do I find my PTAN?
On the enrollment approval letter, or in PECOS under My Associates, then View Enrollments, then View Medicare ID Report.
Is a PTAN the same as an NPI?
No. The NPI is the national HIPAA identifier issued through NPPES and used on claims. The PTAN is Medicare's enrollment number and is used to authenticate with the MAC.
Why does AffirmDME store a PTAN per location?
Because the DME MACs calculate the prior authorization exemption per PTAN and jurisdiction, so exemption tracking has to follow the same key.
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Sources: Noridian: Provider Transaction Access Number (PTAN) · Noridian JA DME: When to contact the National Provider Enrollment contractors vs. the DME MAC · Noridian JA DME: Prior Authorization Exemption Process . Definitions summarize public Medicare policy and are not legal or billing advice.
More terms
- ADR — Additional Documentation Request
- Prior authorization
- Affirmation and non-affirmation
- UTN — Unique Tracking Number
- SWO — Standard Written Order
- Face-to-face encounter
- DME MAC — Durable Medical Equipment Medicare Administrative Contractor
- Jurisdiction
- NPI — National Provider Identifier
- MBI — Medicare Beneficiary Identifier
- LCD — Local Coverage Determination
- NCD — National Coverage Determination
- Policy article
- HCPCS — Healthcare Common Procedure Coding System
- Length of need
- Prior authorization exemption
- Competitive bidding
- CMN and DIF — Certificate of Medical Necessity and DME Information Form
- Proof of delivery
- TPE — Targeted Probe and Educate
- Prepayment review