Credentialing, enrollment and billing guides
Plain-language articles for practice managers and providers. Requirements vary by state and payer, so use these as a starting point.
How to Accept Insurance as a Therapist: A Realistic Roadmap
Thinking about taking insurance? Here is what it really involves: the decision, the steps in order, the wait, and the surprises most new therapists miss.
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PHP and IOP Billing for Substance Use Treatment Facilities: What Makes It Different
A plain guide to billing PHP and IOP programs for substance use treatment: codes, authorizations, denials, and why Medicare covers so little.
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CO-16 Denial Code: What It Means and How to Fix It
CO-16 means the claim is missing information or has a billing error. Here is how to read the remark code, fix the claim and resubmit.
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CO-97 Denial Code: When a Service Is Bundled Into Another Payment
CO-97 means the payer says this service is already included in the payment for another one. Here is how to tell a real bundle from a billing mistake.
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CO-45 Denial Code: Why It Usually Is Not a Real Denial
CO-45 means your charge was higher than the payer's allowed amount. Here is what it means, when to write it off, and when to take a second look.
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Denial Codes Decoded: What CO-45, CO-97, CO-16 and the Rest Actually Mean
A plain-English guide to the denial codes that show up most on remittance advice, what each one means, and what to do first when you see it.
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Can Therapists Enroll in Medicare? What Counselors and MFTs Need to Know
Since January 2024, mental health counselors and marriage and family therapists can bill Medicare. Here is who qualifies, how enrollment works, and what to do first.
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What Is Provider Credentialing? A Plain-English Guide
Credentialing is how an insurer checks that you are qualified before it lets you join its network. Here is what it means, who needs it, and what happens step by step.
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How to Get on Insurance Panels as a Therapist: A Step-by-Step Guide
Getting paneled means getting credentialed and enrolled with each insurance company. Here are the steps in order, the documents you need, and how long it usually takes.
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Five Mistakes That Delay Therapist Credentialing
Most delays come from a handful of avoidable errors. Here are the five we see most often, and a simple way to avoid each one.
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In-Network or Out-of-Network? How Therapists Decide
Joining insurance panels brings clients but also paperwork and set rates. Going out-of-network gives you control but a smaller pool. Here is how to weigh it for your practice.
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CAQH Attestation: How Often, and What Happens If You Miss It
You must re-attest your CAQH profile regularly. Here is how often, what a lapse does to your credentialing, and a simple reminder habit that prevents it.
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Credentialing vs. Payer Enrollment: What Is the Difference?
People use the two words as if they mean the same thing, but they are different steps. Here is what each one is, how they fit together, and why mixing them up costs weeks.
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CAQH ProView Is Now DataSpring: What Providers Need to Know
CAQH rebranded as DataSpring in June 2026. Here is what changed, what stayed the same, and how to avoid scam emails about it.
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Your CAQH Profile Is Probably the Slowest Part of Credentialing
A stale CAQH profile quietly holds up a lot of credentialing files. Here is what payers actually trip over, and a quick way to check yours.
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Opening a New Practice? The Admin Work, in the Order That Actually Makes Sense
Plenty of new practices lose weeks by doing the paperwork out of order. Here is a sensible sequence, and why the order matters.
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How to Never Miss a License Renewal
A missed renewal can pause a provider from seeing patients. A simple tracker and a few habits will almost always prevent it.
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Revalidation: The Deadline That Can Quietly Cut Off Your Payments
Enrollment is not a one-time job. Payers ask you to confirm your details again on their own schedule, and missing it can interrupt payment.
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How to Read a Claim Denial Without Panicking
A denial looks like a wall of codes, but it is really a short message. Here is how to read it and decide what to do next.
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Thinking About Outsourcing Billing? Questions Worth Asking First
Handing billing to someone else can free up a lot of time, but only if you know what you are buying. These are the questions to ask any billing partner, including us.
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How Long Does Payer Enrollment Really Take?
Nobody can give you an exact date for payer enrollment, but you can see why some applications move and others sit. Here is what helps you avoid the long waits.
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Before You Start Credentialing: The Paperwork to Get in Order First
Most credentialing delays start before the application is even filled in. Here is the paperwork worth gathering first, and the small mistakes that cause the biggest delays.
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Why Claims Get Denied, and the Boring Fixes That Prevent Most of Them
Many denials come from a handful of everyday problems rather than anything dramatic. Here are the usual suspects and the habits that keep claims from bouncing back.
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