The Basics

This standard requires that your organization notify providers, in writing, of the determination of the providers' credentialing application within 10 calendar days of that determination. 

Make sure to check with your policy and procedure regarding notification of providers to see what documents, if any, should be included with that notification.  Some organizations require that a contract be sent along with the notification; some organizations do not.

Management Tips

This is a reduction from the previous version from 60 to 10, so if you based your P&Ps on the previous version of the standard, you'll need to change those P&Ps.  Also, be sure your delegated credentialing contractors are aware of this change, as they are require to follow this standard under Core 8(b).

URAC Accreditation Tips

The standard carries the weight of 3, and its only element is secondary.

The documentation you should submit at the desktop review phase and should include a credentialing plan that describes the notification process including this timeframe, a sample notification letter that complies with that policy, and any audit reports that you can produce that demonstrate that you are complying with the time frame imposed by this requirement.

The on-site reviewer will confirm compliance with this standard through a combination of interviews with credentialing staff and a review of three dozen or so credentialing files to verify that providers are being notified of the credentialing determination in a timely manner.

Some organizations do not maintain records of the acceptance letters and try to reproduce an electronic copy at the time of the onsite.  However some software packages may only be able to print the current date, rather than the date the letter was sent, to demonstrate correct implementation of this standard.  You may have to plan for how to demonstrate proof of this letter.