Dental credentialing is the process through which an insurance company grants approval to a healthcare provider, enabling them to join the company’s roster of in-network providers. Becoming a part of an insurance company’s network offers a dental practice the opportunity to tap into a larger pool of patients and enhance potential revenue.
A dental practice can depend on the expertise of an experienced dental credentialing company to liaise and contract with insurance carriers can be unwieldy and time-consuming. Common credentialing issues that can be faced by any dental practice include the following:
Extensive documentation:
Credentialing requires a substantial amount of paperwork, including application forms, supporting documents, and verification of credentials. This paperwork can be overwhelming and time-consuming. The documentation needed for credentialing must be accurate and complete. Incomplete or inaccurate information can lead to delays or rejections.
Dynamic regulations:
The rules and regulations governing credentialing are complex and can vary by state and insurance provider. Dental practices must navigate these regulations, which can be challenging, particularly for those who are not familiar with the process.
Process delays:
The credentialing process can be slow, taking several months to complete. Delays can affect a practice’s ability to start accepting new patients and getting reimbursed.
Follow-up till closure:
Effective communication with insurance companies and other entities involved in the credentialing process is essential. Dental practices may struggle to keep up with follow-up inquiries or changes in the status of their applications.
Provider enrollment fees:
Some insurance companies require enrollment fees, and these fees can be costly. Dental practices must budget for these fees, which can affect their cash flow.
Verification:
The verification of a dentist’s education, licenses, and certifications can be time-consuming, especially if there are issues with the provided information or if the verification process is slow.
Network coverage:
Some insurance providers may limit the number of providers in a specific area to maintain network adequacy. As a result, they may not accept new dentists into their networks, making it challenging for new practices to join.
Re-Credentialing:
Even after successfully getting credentialed, dental practices must undergo periodic re-credentialing to maintain their network participation. Keeping up with re-credentialing requirements can be an ongoing challenge.
Changing Regulations:
Regulations related to credentialing, insurance, and their programs can change over time. Dental practices need to stay up-to-date with these changes and adapt their processes accordingly.
Data Security and Compliance:
The credentialing process involves sharing sensitive and confidential information. Dental practices must ensure they have robust data security measures in place to protect this information and remain in compliance with privacy laws.
Coordination with Multiple Payers:
Dental practices may need to go through the credentialing process with multiple insurance companies and government programs. Coordinating and managing multiple credentialing processes can be overwhelming.
Solutions to tackle
Avoiding incomplete or wrongly filled applications
Before the submission of a credentialing application, care must be taken to avoid possible errors or missing data as it leads to longer wait times. Most credentialing applications generally have a long lead time for approval and completion and hence the practice has to ensure submission of only precise applications.
Documents such as the CV, DEA (Drug Enforcement Administration) certificate, state dental licenses, qualifications, and all acquired identification numbers must be provided as asked.
Solutions for emergency cases
The practice can ask the insurance carrier about the possibility of faster solutions for credentialing in temporary or emergency cases such as locum tenens. This situation can arise when dentists from a practice have to go on unplanned leave.
Also, if a dentist was credentialed in the past with them, the possibility of fast-tracking the credential request can be explored.
Planning and execution with stringent care
The dental team must conduct a comprehensive insurance carrier analysis in the market and arrive at an optimum plan based on the aims and strengths of the practice. All applications must be completed with accuracy and attention must be paid to each and every detail.
The entire process must be done right the first time. After the submission of applications, the status must be diligently tracked and issues if any must be handled with care.
