Joseph Ference, PA-C
Joseph Ference, PA-C is a Physician Assistant in Lakewood, WA, registered under NPI 1255387783. This provider registers 4 separate taxonomy codes, which usually means they practise across more than one recognised specialty.
Getting there
The practice address on file is 9720 S TACOMA WAY, Lakewood, WA 98499. We have not yet mapped what surrounds this office — parking, transit, and nearby pharmacies are added as our data collection reaches each location.
Credentials and Medicare
| Licence | State | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| PA10004397 | WA | Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse… |
| PA10004397 | WA | Medical Physician Assistant |
| PA10004397 | WA | Family Health Clinical Nurse Specialist |
This provider holds licence PA10004397 issued in WA. A licence number in NPPES reflects what was filed at registration — it does not confirm the licence is still active today.
- Status
- Approved
- Provider type
- Practitioner - Physician Assistant
- PAC ID
- 3779564364
- Enrollment ID
- I20040528000575
Medicare enrolment is recorded as approved under the provider type Practitioner - Physician Assistant. Being enrolled means the provider can bill Medicare; it does not tell you whether they are currently accepting new Medicare patients. Call the office to confirm.
What Physician Assistant covers
A physician assistant is a person who has successfully completed an accredited education program for physician assistant, is licensed by the state and is practicing within the scope of that license. Physician assistants are formally trained to perform many of the routine, time-consuming tasks a physician can do. In some states, they may prescribe medications. They take medical histories, perform physical exams, order lab tests and x-rays, and give inoculations. Most states require that they work under the supervision of a physician. NUCC Health Care Provider Taxonomy, code 363A00000X
All registered taxonomy codes
This provider registers 4 taxonomy codes. The primary code is what appears on most claims; the others record additional recognised specialties.
| Code | Specialty | Licence | State | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 364SP0808X | Psychiatric/Mental Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Psychiatric/Mental Health | PA10004397 | WA | |
| 363A00000X | Physician Assistant | — | — | primary |
| 363AM0700X | Medical Physician Assistant Medical | PA10004397 | WA | |
| 364SF0001X | Family Health Clinical Nurse Specialist Family Health | PA10004397 | WA |
The taxonomy records how the provider classifies their own practice. It does not confirm which conditions they currently treat, whether they are accepting new patients, or which insurance they take — call the office for that.
Full NPPES record
An NPI-1 identifies a single person. It stays with the clinician for life, even if they move practice or change state, which is why the address on file can lag behind where they actually work today.
| NPI | 1255387783 valid check digit |
|---|---|
| Entity type | Individual (NPI-1) |
| Enumeration date | May 26, 2006 |
| Last updated | Jul 21, 2020 |
| Status | Active |
| Sole proprietor | No |
| Gender | Male |
| Credential | PA-C |
| Practice address |
9720 S TACOMA WAY Lakewood, WA 98499 (253) 503-3666 |
| Mailing address |
15 OREGON AVE STE 308 Tacoma, WA 98409 |
Number check
How the check works, step by step
Every NPI carries a Luhn check digit — the same scheme used on credit cards. CMS prefixes the number with 80840 before computing it, which marks it as a US health identifier.
| Digit | 8 | 0 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 5 | 3 | 8 | 7 | 7 | 8 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doubled? | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 | — | ×2 |
| Value | 8 | 0 | 8 | 8 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 | 6 | 8 | 5 | 7 | 7 |
Sum = 67 · next multiple of 10 = 70 · check digit = 3 · actual last digit = 3
A valid check digit only means the number is well-formed. It does not mean the provider is licensed, active, or in good standing — those are separate questions answered by the sections above.