To provide medical care to patients, it’s important to maintain high-quality standards in the healthcare industry. Hence, physician credentialing proves to be a crucial key factor to prevent medical errors.
Before getting hired by a care facility, medical credentialing is performed. This process involves a detailed verification of educational qualifications, training background, past and current licenses, employment history, and more. Medical credentialing involves seamless documentation, frequent follow-ups, and ongoing monitoring to keep track of license expiries.
Any mistake in medical credentialing can cause loss of revenue by healthcare facilities and harm to patients. Hence, you need an expert to make sure you get credentialed as quickly as possible.
This article aims to discuss medical credentialing mistakes to avoid accreditation issues and malpractice suits. Let’s go through them one by one.
Medical professionals and care facilities that fail to report adverse actions to the NPDB hold back critical information necessary to complete physician credentialing. The NPDB needs reporting of the subsequent actions:
Medical credentialing is a deadly process that involves accuracy, attention, as well as patience. Hence, make sure to hire a credentialing expert to manage the credentialing process if you cannot manage them on your own. If the healthcare organization doesn’t do so, it will end up losing revenue. Do not increase this credentialing burden on your staff as they are more likely to make mistakes.
Mostly, care providers fill only a few fields in the credentialing application and leave other fields blank. By doing so, healthcare organizations will not process your application due to which there will be a delay. Furthermore, incorrect filling of the application can even deny your claims.
Hence, contact the credentialing department via email and confirm whether the application is complete in case there is a delay in credentialing. You can also ask for the tentative date of completing the credentialing application.
There is a legal condition that the care facilities will be held liable if a physician provides false credentials. So, always make sure not to appoint any medical professional before completing their credentialing process as it would lead to a loss of revenue.
For example, here’s the famous negligent credentialing case where the Illinois jury awarded the petitioner 8 million dollars. It’s because the operating physician, who was not board certified and had not completed his podiatric surgical residency, had damaged the patient’s foot and had to be amputated.
Medical professionals should regularly renew their credentials and licenses according to the state regulations where they practice. The renewal period is usually 3 years to ensure that credentials are up to date. If the care facility fails to re-credential, there is a high risk of developing negative patient outcomes followed by costly malpractice lawsuits.
Healthcare organizations should perform screenings for past disciplinary actions with a detailed background check. At the same time, physicians are not supposed to hide their past adverse actions. Hence, make sure to verify credentials against multiple trusted sources including sanctions, debarment, and exclusion lists. The Office of Inspector General (OIG) exclusion list is the best example.
It’s a known fact that physician credentialing is a tedious process. However, it’s mandatory to complete credentialing for every care provider as it protects your practice from noncompliance and risks. At the same time, ongoing detailed screening is important to prevent expensive credentialing as well as malpractice claims. Avoid rushing this process as it may lead to errors like missing information. Hence, it is highly recommended to be proactive in updating credentialing tasks so that you can avoid mistakes that may put patients at risk.
Partner with Credidocs who can take care of your medical credentialing tasks from start to finish. If you need any further assistance in physician credentialing tasks, contact us at info@credidocs.com
Renewing a medical license is a critical aspect of maintaining your legal ability to practice medicine. As the medical field continues to evolve, physicians must stay updated not only with their knowledge and skills but also with their licensure status. The renewal process for a medical license can vary significantly based on factors such as your location, specialty, and the specific requirements set forth by your state’s licensing board. This guide will walk you through the frequency, factors, and steps involved in physician license lookup, as well as how to avoid common pitfalls like delinquent licenses.
The frequency with which you need to renew your medical license depends largely on the rules established by the licensing authorities in your state. Some states require annual renewals, while others have a biennial (every two years) system in place. Physicians must familiarize themselves with the specific renewal schedule in their state, as missing deadlines can lead to penalties, including the potential suspension of your ability to practice.
In addition to state rules, certain specialties and certifications may also influence how often you need to renew your license. For example, some subspecialties may require more frequent renewals or additional continuing education requirements.
Several key factors can impact the frequency with which you need to renew your medical license:
Renewing your medical license involves several critical steps, each of which must be completed accurately and within the specified timeframe:
Reinstating an expired medical license is often labor-intensive. Physicians must typically pay reinstatement or past-due fees, provide proof of completed CMEs, maintain insurance, and submit an updated CV. Additional requirements may include a criminal background check and declarations regarding substance use or mental health. If you haven't practiced for a while, a physician assessment or clinical skills test may be necessary. Importantly, if a license is delinquent for over five years, it is automatically canceled, requiring you to apply for a new license and meet current licensure standards.
Practicing with an expired or delinquent medical license is illegal and can lead to disciplinary action and financial penalties. To avoid this, physician license renewal is mandatory before the expiration date. If renewed more than 90 days late, you may face a penalty fee equal to 50% of the renewal fee, plus a 10% delinquency fee. Many professionals use licensing specialists or services to track deadlines and ensure compliance, helping you avoid legal repercussions and maintain an active license.
Renewing your medical license is an essential aspect of your professional life. The frequency of renewal depends on state regulations, specialty requirements, and additional factors such as CME and professional certifications. By staying informed about your state’s renewal criteria and following the necessary steps, you can ensure that your license is renewed on time, allowing you to continue practicing medicine without interruption. Credidocs is here to help you!
State-specific Continuing Medical Education (CME) requirements have become widespread throughout the US, affecting physicians applying for initial licensure or renewal. These stipulations require doctors to complete CME hours on topics deemed important by state boards. While intended to enhance physician knowledge, these requirements present several challenges.
State boards have prioritized various CME topics, often focusing on public health concerns. The most common requirement is CME related to safe prescribing, particularly opioids, pain management, end-of-life care, and addiction. For instance, Colorado mandates two hours of CME on substance abuse prevention and treatment every renewal period.
Other states emphasize different topics, including:
Some states have specific mandates, such as Connecticut's requirement for CME on HIV/AIDS within the broader infectious disease category or Nevada's four-hour CME on bioterrorism for initial licensure. Additionally, a few states require CME on current public health priorities, which may change every renewal period.
According to the 2018 FSMB Census of Licensed Physicians, over 20% of US-licensed physicians hold more than one medical license. These physicians must track various state-specific CME requirements, including:
Failure to comply can lead to ineligibility for renewal or penalties, potentially causing superb doctors to lose their licenses over trivial CME credits.
State-specific CME requirements also hinder the adoption of telemedicine. Effective telemedicine practice often necessitates multiple state licenses, but additional CME requirements deter physicians from obtaining these licenses, limiting patient access to telehealth services.
State-mandated CME topics undermine physician autonomy and self-directed lifelong learning. Physicians are highly motivated and capable professionals, and mandatory CME on specific topics can be seen as patronizing. Moreover, this approach sets a precedent that CME on any important topic is necessary for competency.
States often implement CME topic requirements in response to systemic problems, such as the opioid crisis. This places the burden on physicians to address these issues, allowing states to claim they are taking action without addressing underlying problems.
Ambiguity in state-specific continuing medical education online requirements poses a risk of noncompliance. Some states encourage CME on certain topics, leading to confusion. For instance, Texas encourages CME on tick-borne diseases for physicians treating such conditions, but the lack of clarity on what constitutes "treating" these diseases can lead to scrutiny by the board during license renewal.
Physicians can help curb the trend of state-specific CME requirements by getting involved with their state or local medical society, voting against resolutions leading to mandatory CME topics, and staying informed about their home-state medical board's activities. Serving on the board can also influence regulations.
Becoming a telemedicine advocate by joining organizations like the American Telemedicine Association can help create regulations that allow for the use of telemedicine without unnecessary red tape.
Physicians holding multiple state licenses should establish a system to track continuing medical education online requirements and credits, preventing last-minute scrambles to meet renewal criteria.
While state-specific CME requirements aim to enhance physician knowledge and address public health concerns, they present several challenges. By staying involved, advocating for telemedicine, and maintaining an organized tracking system, physicians can navigate these requirements more effectively while advocating for more flexible CME regulations. For more details, connect with the Credidocs team today.
The medical licensure process can be intricate and demanding, making it essential for physicians to gather comprehensive information about specific state medical boards before applying. Questions about application rejection rates, adherence to posted timelines, and requests for additional information are common. At Credidocs, our licensing experts are well-versed in the nuances of various state medical boards, guiding physicians through potential pitfalls to avoid frustrating delays.
Regardless of the state, the quality and accuracy of your application are crucial. It is essential to understand the documentation requirements and compile the necessary information as early as possible. Missing required information can lead to significant delays. Additionally, adhering to deadlines is vital, as many states will void incomplete applications. Attention to detail is paramount when applying for a medical license.
The most effective way to get a physician license in any state is to make use of the services of an expert medical licensing firm like Credidocs. Clients are paired with a dedicated licensing specialist who manages the application process from start to finish. Credidocs ensures that applications are complete and accurate, minimizing the physician's involvement. An accelerated program is available, where professionally prepared applications and credential verification requests are shipped within 24 hours, offering the fastest route to obtaining a medical license.
Our extensive experience with medical boards across all 50 states has enabled us to identify the top ten states where the licensure process is typically smoothest for our clients:
Instead of navigating the complex and time-consuming medical license application process alone, leverage our expertise. Our experienced licensing professionals compile and manage your application efficiently. To begin with, get in touch with our team to complete an online intake form. Your dedicated licensing specialist will gather the necessary information to ensure your eligibility and prepare your application paperwork. Once you finalize the paperwork, we submit it to the medical board for processing.
Avoid the hassle of dealing with medical boards over minor errors or oversights. Engaging a physician licensing service ensures that your application is thorough, complete, and accurate from the outset. At Credidocs, our licensing experts realize the necessities of each state medical board, making sure that your application proceeds smoothly.
By working with a physician licensing service, you avoid common pitfalls such as missing required information, overlooking important deadlines or fees, and including inaccuracies in your application. Our specialists are detail-oriented and apply their extensive experience to every application. This diligence prevents delays and the need for resubmission, which often incurs additional fees.
Rather than spending significant time familiarizing yourself with the intricacies of the medical license application process, take advantage of the expert knowledge offered by Credidocs. Our licensing experts have a deep understanding of every medical licensing requirement and serve as an ideal source for every client. They work closely with physicians to compile credentials, verifications, and documentation, which are securely stored for future applications or physician license renewals.
For physicians holding medical licenses in multiple states, keeping up with varying licensure requirements and physician license renewal deadlines can be challenging. A professional licensing service, with comprehensive knowledge of each state's requirements, can manage these elements efficiently. Your dedicated licensing specialist tracks all details, making multi-state licensure easier to obtain and maintain.
Entrusting your medical license application to professionals increases the likelihood of approval. At Credidocs, we conduct a pre-qualification analysis, cross-referencing your credentials with state requirements to ensure eligibility. We collect your data via a simple intake form, prepare the necessary forms, and guide you through the application process. We facilitate direct-source verification of your credentials, track all components of the application, and maintain contact with board reviewers until your license is granted. These efforts ensure a smooth application process and a high probability of approval. For a hassle-free medical licensing process, call us today.
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