The payer registry is based on a system of identifier blocks for units within payer groups. If those units change affiliation, they will need a new identifier will be needed. Therefore, the identifier cannot be considered permanent. The data elements needed to uniquely define entities are not accessible to the public. Since it is a relatively small database, internal quality control and database maintenance features can adequately ensure that each number is unique.
Mechanisms are in place to assign unique numbers to all payers.
Since the enumerating authority will be centrally located, it is presumed that the integrity of the database can be maintained, and procedures will be developed for both automated and manual checking. The associated data elements needed to completely identify a payer are not accessible to the public. The database does maintain complete name, location and contact information on each insurance company. It also identifies companies by a proprietary taxonomy. This database is currently available only to the U.S. State Department, and inaccessible to the public.