Group Vs. Individual Credentialing: What’s The Difference?
Credentialing - AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania
Sign a Participating Provider Agreement (contract) if not already contracted or if not part of an existing contracted group. Call 1-866-546-7972 for information.
3. Be enrolled in the Pennsylvania Medical Assistance program (more information below).
AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania maintains and adheres to all applicable state and federal standards and regulations, Department of Human Services (DHS) requirements, and accreditation requirements governing credentialing and recredentialing functions. For more information, please call:
AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania: 1-800-642-3510, option 2
The following types of practitioners require credentialing and re-credentialing:
Allied health practitioners
Audiologist (AUD)
Certified Nurse Midwife (CNM)
Certified Registered Nurse Practitioner (CRNP)
Doctor of Chiropractic (D.C.)
Doctor of Dental Medicine (D.M.D.)
Doctor of Dental Surgery (D.D.S.)
Doctor of Medicine (M.D.)
Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine (D.O.)
Doctor of Podiatric Medicine (D.P.M.)
General dentists
Occupational therapist (OT)
Pediatric dentists
Physical therapist (PT)
Registered dietitian
School-based practitioners
Speech and language therapist
Therapeutic optometrist (O.D.) providing care under the medical benefit
Credentialing criteria
To be evaluated as a qualified health care provider, you must meet the following criteria (as applicable):
You must have a current unrestricted state license, not subject to probation, proctoring requirements, or any disciplinary action. A copy of the license must be submitted along with the application.
You must have a valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) or Controlled Dangerous Substances (CDS) certificate, if applicable.
You must have education and training that supports the requested specialty or service.
Foreign-trained providers must submit an Educational Commission for Foreign Medical Graduates (ECFMG) certificate or number with the application.
The following organizations are recognized by AmeriHealth Caritas for purposes of verifying specialty board certification:
American Board of Medical Specialties (ABMS).
American Osteopathic Association (AOA).
American Board of Podiatric Medicine (ABPM).
American Board of Podiatric Orthopedics and Primary Podiatric Medicine (ABPOPPM).
Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons.
Frequently Asked Questions about Becoming a Participating Provider
Contracting
If you are not currently contracted with AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania and are not joining a group already in our network, please call 1-866-546-7972 to discuss obtaining the appropriate AmeriHealth Caritas Provider Agreement.
Note: The credentialing process and contracting process can occur simultaneously.
Credentialing for providers participating with CAQH
AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania/AmeriHealth Caritas Northeast have entered into an agreement with the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare (CAQH) to offer our providers the Universal Provider DataSource that simplifies and streamlines the data collection process for credentialing and recredentialing.
Through CAQH, you provide credentialing information to a single repository, via a secure internet site, to fulfill the credentialing requirements of all health plans that participate with CAQH. Our goal is to have our all of providers enrolled with CAQH.
There is no cost to providers to submit applications and participate in CAQH.
Register for CAQH.
Grant authorization for AmeriHealth Caritas to view your information in the CAQH database.
Send your CAQH ID number to AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania (on the Application Checklist for Practitioners below).
Submit the following documents to AmeriHealth Caritas via secure email with electronic signature or by fax to 1-717-651-1673.
Additional CAQH information
CAQH Provider User Guide (PDF)
Frequently Asked Questions About CAQH
About Universal Provider DataSource (PDF)
Applications and application checklists
Each provider and facility MUST fill out the following documents in their entirety in order Browse this site to initiate the credentialing process:
For providers who are registered with CAQH:
Application Checklist for Practitioners (PDF)
IRS Form W-9 (PDF)
For providers applying via paper (non-CAQH) process:
Application Checklist for Practitioners (PDF)
- All documents as outlined on the Credentialing Checklist for Practitioners
Pennsylvania Standard Application (PDF)
IRS Form W-9 (PDF)
Hospital based only - providers providing services in the Hospital setting only
Pathologist Anesthesiologist Radiologist Emergency Med Neonatologist and Hospitalist (PAREN) Data Entry (PDF)
For facilities:
Application Checklist for Organizational Providers (PDF)
- All documents as outlined on the Credentialing Checklist for Organizational Providers
Organizational Provider Credentialing Application (PDF)
Ownership and Control Disclosure Form (PDF)
IRS Form W-9 (PDF)
Submit all completed documents to AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania via secure email with electronic signature or by fax to 1-717-651-1673.
Credentialing rights
After the submission of the application, health care providers have the following rights:
To review information submitted to support their credentialing applications, with the exception of references, recommendations, and peer-protected information obtained by AmeriHealth Caritas Pennsylvania.
To correct erroneous information. When information obtained by the Credentialing department varies substantially from information provided by the provider, the Credentialing department will notify the provider to correct the discrepancy.
To be informed, upon request, of the status of their credentialing or recredentialing applications.
To be notified within 60 calendar days of the Credentialing Committee or Medical Director review decision.
To appeal any credentialing or recredentialing denial within 30 calendar days of receiving written notification of the decision.
To know that all documentation and other information received for the purpose of credentialing and recredentialing is considered confidential and is stored in a secure location that is only accessed by authorized plan associates.
To receive notification of these rights.