M0018 — National Provider Identifier (NPI) for the attending physician who has signed the plan of care
Response options, how to score it, and the error that most often sends the record back. Cited to Ch. 1, Item M0018.
Response options
| Value | Meaning |
|---|---|
| UK | Unknown or Not Available |
How to score it
Record the 10-digit NPI of the attending physician (or allowed non-physician practitioner) who has signed the plan of care for the certification period. If the NPI is not yet known at the time of the assessment, use code UK; replace with the actual NPI when it becomes available before final submission.
The common error
Using the agency medical director's NPI instead of the attending physician of record. M0018 must be the practitioner who signed the plan of care for THIS patient — not a default agency physician.
Source: OASIS-E2 Guidance Manual — Ch. 1, Item M0018. Verified 2026-04-26.
Nearby Section M items
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