Hearing held on bill to speed credentialing of Medicaid providers with private insurers

Lawmakers hear testimony on streamlining credentialing for health providers.

At a committee hearing Representative Trey Kelly described a bill intended to reduce delays in credentialing by private insurers for medical providers who already carry Medicaid credentialing in the state. Kelly said lengthy credentialing timelines can delay patient care, make the state less attractive to new providers and discourage providers from enrolling in Medicaid networks.

Kelly outlined the proposal: once a doctor has been credentialed for Medicaid, private health plans "shall within 45 days also approve their application, and approve them to be credentialed under that private health plan." He said the change would standardize the process, reduce redundant applications, and help hospitals and clinics that rely on timely credentialing to be reimbursed for services.

Committee members asked clarifying questions, including whether the state health benefit plan would be covered and whether the bill applies to all plan types. Kelly said the measure is intended to apply to insurers providing a network plan and that he would seek clarifying language before the next meeting. The hearing ended with no committee vote recorded in the provided transcript.

What happens next: The sponsor said he would follow up with clarifications and committee staff about applicability; the committee indicated plans to continue consideration at a later meeting.