!!! Overview
[{$pagename}], within the [United States] has been a controversial subject.
The [Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act] of [1996|Year 1996] ([HIPAA]) established the statutory authority to create a [{$pagename}], a [distinct ID code|Unique Identifier] to identify the medical records of every individual, employer, health plan, and health care provider in America. 

Section 1173(b) of the [Social Security Act] (42 [U.S.C.]8 1320d–2(b) reads:
* (b)[209] Unique Health Identifiers.—
** (1) In general.—The Secretary shall adopt standards providing for a standard unique health identifier for each individual, employer, health plan, and health care provider for use in the health care system. In carrying out the preceding sentence for each health plan and health care provider, the Secretary shall take into account multiple uses for identifiers and multiple locations and specialty classifications for health care providers.

However, [United States Congress] had a provision written into every Congressional budget since [1999|Year 1999] has included: 
“None of the funds made available in this act may be used to promulgate or adopt any final standard under section 1173(b) of the [Social Security Act] providing for, or providing for the assignment of, a [{$pagename}] for an individual (except in an individual’s capacity as an employer or a health care provider), until legislation is enacted specifically approving the 13 standard,..”The [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] ([CMS]) Jan 22, [2004|Year 2004] announced the adoption of the [National Provider Identifier] ([NPI]) as the standard [Unique Health IDentifier] for [Health Care Providers] to use in filing and processing [HealthCare] claims and other transactions.

June [2019|Year 2019] the [United States House of Representatives] voted to end the ban however, September 23, 2019 the [United States Senate] appropriators declined to include the language in its draft fiscal year [2020|Year 2020] funding legislation. A Joint congressional committee will need to hash out the differences.

!! [Medicare Beneficiary Identifier]
In April [2018|Year 2018], [Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services] began mailing out new [Medicare] cards with new [ID numbers|Unique Identifier] to all beneficiaries. Previous cards had [Identifiers] using or containing beneficiaries' [Social Security Numbers]; the new ID numbers are randomly generated and not tied to any other [Personally Identifiable Information].

!! More Information
There might be more information for this subject on one of the following:
[{ReferringPagesPlugin before='*' after='\n' }]