FAQ

Your Credentialing Questions. Answered.

If you're wondering, someone else has asked. Here are the questions we hear most often, answered plainly.

Getting Started
How long does credentialing take?

For most payers, the initial credentialing process takes 60 to 120 days from application submission. Medicare and Medicaid typically take 60 to 90 days. Commercial payers like Aetna, BCBS, and United can range from 60 to 120 days. Our process from intake to first application submission averages 30 to 45 days. The faster you get us your documents, the faster we can submit.

What documents do I need to start?

Most providers need: a current medical license, DEA certificate (if applicable), board certification, malpractice insurance certificate, CV or work history for the past 10 years, professional references, CAQH profile credentials, and NPI numbers (Type 1 and Type 2). We provide a complete checklist at intake so nothing is missed.

Do I need a CAQH profile before we start?

Most commercial payers require a CAQH profile. If you don't have one, we create it for you as part of onboarding. If you already have one, we verify it's complete and current before submitting any applications.

Can I credential a new provider before they start seeing patients?

Yes, and we strongly recommend it. Credentialing can begin as soon as the provider is hired. Starting early prevents the gap between their start date and their first billable date.

During the Process
How will I know where things stand during credentialing?

You have real-time access to our client portal. Every provider in your practice has a dashboard showing their current phase (out of 7), payer enrollment statuses, document checklist, and any open action items. You never need to call us for a status update.

What happens if a payer denies the application?

We handle it. Denials almost always have a fixable root cause: missing documentation, an error in the application, or a panel closure. We identify the reason, correct it, and resubmit. We stay on the appeal until it's resolved.

What is the difference between credentialing and payer enrollment?

Credentialing is the verification process: confirming a provider's education, licenses, training, and malpractice history. Payer enrollment is the application to join a payer's network so the provider can bill that payer's members. Both need to happen, and we handle both.

Can you credential providers in multiple states?

Yes. We work with providers across multiple states and coordinate all state-specific licensing and payer requirements. Multi-state credentialing is common for telehealth providers and staffing agencies.

Renewals & Ongoing Maintenance
What happens after a provider is credentialed?

Credentialing is not one-time. Most payers require re-credentialing every 2 to 3 years, and individual licenses, DEA certificates, board certifications, and CAQH attestations all have their own expiration cycles. We track all of it and alert you 90 days before anything is due.

What if a provider's credential lapses?

A lapsed credential can interrupt billing and trigger claims audits. If you're in our system, this shouldn't happen: we flag renewals 90 days out. If you come to us after something has lapsed, we do a credential recovery review and work to restore active status as quickly as possible.

Can you handle recredentialing for existing providers?

Yes. We manage full recredentialing cycles, including updating CAQH attestations, re-verifying primary sources, and resubmitting payer applications on schedule.

We already have a credentialing coordinator in-house. Can you support them?

Yes. Some clients use us as a full outsource. Others use us to support an internal team: handling overflow, specific payers, or complex situations. We work either way.

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