Complete a Survey; Improve Universal Credentialing Process
By News Staff
10/30/2007
The AAFP and the Medical Group Management Association, or MGMA, compiled the 2007 credentialing application questionnaire. Both organizations support the Healthcare Administrative Simplification Coalition, or HASC, in its efforts to simplify the overall administrative complexity of the U.S. health care system, including the physician credentialing process. Identities of survey respondents will be kept confidential; however, blinded data will be shared with HASC, public officials and the media.
CAQH's Universal Credentialing DataSource allows registered physicians and other health care professionals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to enter credentialing information into a single uniform online application that meets the needs of most health plans, hospitals and other health care organizations.
To date, seven states and the District of Columbia require health insurance companies, hospitals and other credentialing organizations to accept CAQH's standard physician credentialing form.
According to a recent CAQH press release, more than 500,000 health care professionals and 350 health plans across the country have taken advantage of its credentialing process. Of those health care professionals, nearly 38,000 are family physicians.
According to estimates from MGMA, since its inception, universal credentialing has spared physician practices more than 2.5 million man-hours -- the equivalent of 1,250 full-time employees -- that otherwise would have been spent in repetitive submission of credentialing information. In addition, those saved hours have cut health care professionals' administrative costs by more than $75 million a year.
Study of Physician Numbers Projects Smaller, Younger Workforce
AMA Backs GME Funding, Other Medical Education Initiatives
IBM to Cover Its Employees' Primary Care Deductibles, Copays
PCPCC Summit Highlights Growing Support for PCMH
AMA's Stance on Health Care Reform Moves Closer to AAFP's
Study: 'Mindful Communication' Can Help Avoid Burnout
Texas Enacts Loan Repayment Program Aimed at Primary Care Physicians
ABFM, ABIM Collaborate to Launch Hospital Medicine Pilot
New Workforce Report Represents 'Blueprint for Change'
AAFP Leader Warns Congress of H1N1's Effects on FP Practices
Pipeline Issues Driving Primary Care Doc Shortages
RAND Study Rates Quality, Cost of Retail Clinic Care
Q&A With IBM Director Paul Grundy, M.D., M.P.H.
Q&A With Primary Care Expert Barbara Starfield, M.D., M.P.H.
New Jersey to Launch Accountable Care Organization
Fraud Alert: Medical Board Certification Offer Targets Physicians
AAFP Reminds Payers of Performance Measurement Principles
AMA: Subspecialists Join AAFP Opposition to DNP Claims
AMA Reaffirms Support for PCMH
AMA Annual Meeting: Obama Calls for Investment in Primary Care
Universal Credentialing Form Gaining State Converts
(4/20/2007)
Academy, Partners Launch Coalition
Organization Aims to Reduce Physicians' Paperwork
(2/21/2006)
More From AAFP
Policy & Advocacy: Credentialing








