In today’s competitive healthcare landscape, time is revenue. Every day a provider isn’t credentialed translates to lost income, delayed patient care, and mounting operational stress.
Unfortunately, many practices underestimate how long credentialing really takes. According to the Medical Group Management Association (MGMA), the average credentialing timeline ranges from 90 to 120 days—and that’s without any complications. When errors, missing documents, or payer backlogs occur, the process can easily stretch to 150+ days, leaving practices stuck in limbo.
At Finnastra, we understand the urgency of getting providers credentialed quickly and correctly the first time. Here’s a closer look at what impacts credentialing timelines, and how our Provider Credentialing and Contract Negotiation Services are designed to simplify and speed up the process.
Credentialing involves multiple steps, each with its own dependencies and potential bottlenecks. Below is a typical timeline for a single provider:
| Step | Typical Duration | Key Activities |
| Document Collection & CAQH Setup | 1–2 weeks | Gather provider details, licenses, insurance, education, malpractice history |
| Application Submission | 1 week | Submitting to payers, Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers |
| Primary Source Verification | 2–4 weeks | Payer verifies credentials, training, and licenses |
| Payer Review & Approval | 4–8 weeks | Final approval by payer credentialing committee |
| Contract Execution | 2–3 weeks | Finalizing reimbursement rates and signing agreements |
| Total Timeline | 90–120+ days | Can be extended by errors or payer delays |
Even a small error—such as a missing document, expired license, or outdated CAQH profile—can add 30–45 days to the process.
This means a provider could go three to five months without being reimbursed for services rendered, resulting in tens of thousands of dollars in lost revenue.
Let’s break it down:
These numbers highlight why credentialing is not just an administrative process—it’s a critical revenue management function.
Credentialing delays often occur due to systemic issues within a practice’s processes or payer inefficiencies.
Missing signatures, outdated documents, or incorrect data are among the top reasons payers reject applications.
Pro Tip: A single mistake can reset the clock by weeks.
An unverified or outdated CAQH profile is a red flag for most payers.
If re-credentialing dates aren’t tracked, providers can suddenly be removed from payer networks, halting reimbursements.
Multi-state practices face added complexities due to varying licensing rules and Medicaid processes.
Without proactive follow-up, applications can sit idle in payer systems for weeks without progress.
When you work with a dedicated Provider Credentialing and Contract Negotiation Services company like Finnastra, you gain a partner focused on eliminating inefficiencies and getting your providers reimbursed as quickly as possible.
Our Proven Acceleration Strategy:
We create a secure, organized system for managing all provider documents and licenses, preventing last-minute scrambles.
Our clients receive real-time updates on application statuses, eliminating the “blind spots” common in credentialing.
Our team knows the exact requirements for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial insurers across all 50 states, reducing back-and-forth delays.
We follow up aggressively with payers to keep your applications moving, cutting turnaround time by up to 30%.
Our insurance contract negotiation services ensure you don’t just get credentialed quickly—you get credentialed at optimal reimbursement rates.
A multi-specialty group practice expanding into three states came to us after struggling with six-month credentialing delays. Their internal team was overwhelmed by different state Medicaid requirements and payer inconsistencies.
Our solution:
The result:
Credentialing timelines were reduced by 45 days, allowing the group to start billing nearly two months earlier, capturing an additional $120,000 in revenue during that period.
Before handling credentialing internally or outsourcing it, consider these critical questions:
If you can’t answer “yes” to all these questions, it’s time to rethink your approach.
As a leading Provider Credentialing and Contract Negotiation Services company, Finnastra delivers speed, accuracy, and peace of mind.
Our Provider Credentialing and Contract Negotiation Services are designed to simplify your growth, so you can focus on patient care while we handle the complexities of credentialing.
Every day your providers aren’t credentialed is a day your practice loses money.
Contact Finnastra today to schedule a consultation and discover how we can help you get credentialed faster, negotiate better contracts, and protect your bottom line.
