It's how an insurance company confirms your license, training and history, so you can see its members as an in-network provider. You'll also hear it called provider enrollment or getting contracted.

Because it makes it easier for patients to choose you. They typically pay less out of pocket, and many people start their search with providers their insurance covers. Carriers also list you in their directories, which can send new patients and referrals your way.

• Step 1: You send us your information and documents.

• Step 2: We help you choose the right carriers for your practice.

• Step 3: We submit your applications and follow up until each one is complete.

When you sign on, we’ll send you a guide and an intake link. It asks for:

• Your license to practice

• Your malpractice insurance

• Your NPI number

• Your practice address

• Your IRS EIN letter, if you use a business Tax ID

• Your CAQH profile (if you don’t have one, we’ll start it for you)

Your state or specialty may need a few more things. We’ll tell you what they are, so you’re not left guessing. Photos from your phone usually work fine.

This one surprises a lot of people. Carriers will need an address for the place where you provide services, even if you work from home or by telehealth.

If you work from home, your address doesn't have to be public. We can list it as telehealth only and ask that it be hidden from the public directories and you can also use an offsite mailing address (PO Box, Registered Agent)

This is the online profile many carriers use to pull your information. If you don't have one, we'll set it up for you. While you're in credentialing, we keep it current and handle your re-attestations.

Which carriers you choose to get in network with depends on the goals for your practice. Our general advice is that if you are looking for only the highest reimbursements, we will have a discussion and tailor your needs to your goals.

If you are a new provider and would like to get people in the door, we can apply for all you are eligible for.

We believe your selections shouldn’t be determined by cost - so our fees are a flat fee for new credentialing, giving you options.

We work with the major carriers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, Medicare and your state's Medicaid, and we'll help you pick the ones that fit into your vision of your future.

It depends on your situation. New providers who want commercial carriers only pay one flat fee that covers every carrier you're eligible to apply to.

We also understand that right now, with the economy, you need to get your practice running successfully — we offer payment options to help.

Medicare and Medicaid are an additional fee. Reach out and we'll send you our current rates.

Once we submit your applications, at best, 90 to 120 days, and often longer. Many carriers run slower than that, and we know the waiting is hard. We follow up with them for you until each application is complete. Each carrier takes us about 10 hours of forms, calls and emails, that's time you get back for your clients.

We'll reach out when something big happens, like an approval or something we need from you. In between, it might feel quiet, and that's normal. Credentialing takes a while, and carriers typically stay silent until they need something. Quiet doesn't mean we've stopped. We're busy following up on your applications, which is the part that gets you in network.

If a carrier contacts you directly, just forward it to us right away so we can respond to them quickly to keep your applications moving forward.

No, and we won't tell you otherwise. Sometimes panels are closed due to network capacity no matter what your offerings are.

When a panel is closed, we can add you to the waiting list.

If you have special skills, treat particular populations, speak other languages, let us know and we’ll be happy to try for an appeal.

Yes. Our Management Support service covers CAQH re-attestations, recredentialing and applications to new or reopened networks, so you don't have to keep track of it all yourself.

We don't, but we know who does! Our sister company, Acubiller, handles billing with efficiency!