Troubleshooting tips for physician bulk upload files.
- Use physician names exactly as they appear in the CMS NPPES NPI Registry.
- Do not include physician suffixes such as Jr. or Sr.
- Use the correct values when indicating registry participation.
- Ensure TIN information and dates are entered correctly.
- Preserve leading zeros in TINs by formatting them as text.
Common Upload Errors
Common Mistake: Entering a nickname or shortened version of a physician's name.
How to Fix It: Enter the physician's name exactly as it appears in the CMS NPPES NPI Registry. NRDR validates both the physician name and NPI during upload.
Example: Use Robert Smith if that is the name listed in NPPES, not Bob Smith.
Common Mistake: Adding suffixes such as Jr., Sr., III, or IV.
How to Fix It: Remove all suffixes from the physician name. NPPES validation does not support suffixes.
Common Mistake: Entering values other than those required by the template.
How to Fix It: Use the expected value specified in the upload template, such as Y where participation is required.
Common Mistake: Entering a Tax Identification Number with a hyphen.
How to Fix It: Enter only the digits.
Correct: 123456789
Incorrect: 12-3456789
Common Mistake: Adding a new TIN without specifying a TIN Available From Date.
How to Fix It: Provide a valid TIN Available From Date whenever a new TIN is added.
Common Mistake: Entering a physician Start Date that occurs before the TIN Available From Date.
How to Fix It: Ensure the physician Start Date falls within the TIN Available From and Available To date range.
Common Mistake: Excel automatically removes leading zeros from numeric values.
How to Fix It: Format the TIN as text or place an apostrophe before the number.
Example: '012345678
- Verify physician names against the CMS NPPES NPI Registry.
- Confirm all required dates are populated.
- Remove TIN hyphens.
- Check that TINs with leading zeros are stored as text.
- Review registry participation fields for valid values.
Need Help?
If your physician upload continues to fail after reviewing these common issues, contact the NRDR Support Team.