One Million Healthcare Providers Now Use the CAQH Universal Provider Datasource

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Apr 18, 2012, 09:00 ET

Trusted Healthcare Industry Resource Improves Efficiency and Reduces Costs Associated with Provider Data Administration

WASHINGTON, April 18, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- CAQH® announced today that one million healthcare providers are now using the Universal Provider Datasource® (UPD®), demonstrating that the service is the trusted healthcare industry standard for self-reported provider data used to streamline critical processes including credentialing, member services, network directories, referrals and claims administration.

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"One million providers using the CAQH Universal Provider Datasource is evidence that the service is a valued industry resource that is streamlining the collection, maintenance and distribution of accurate provider data, cutting down on wasteful healthcare spending," said CAQH Executive Director Robin Thomashauer.

UPD enables physicians and other licensed healthcare professionals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to enter their professional and demographic information free-of-charge into a secure database and authorize which healthcare organizations access their information. Regular updates by providers keep the information complete and current.

CAQH estimates that today providers using UPD save approximately $135 million a year while decreasing duplicative paperwork and administrative burden across the healthcare system.

"Through UPD, physician practices have seen a tremendous decline in the volume of duplicative paperwork and the time required to manage these essential administrative tasks," said MGMA-ACMPE President and CEO Susan Turney, MD, MS, FACP, FACMPE. "Ultimately, doctors and their patients benefit from improvements in productivity and efficiency afforded by UPD."

A 2012 survey of 1,745 providers conducted by KRC Research of Washington, D.C. found that a large majority of providers use UPD because it saves them time and money, eliminates paperwork and is an easy to use resource. Ninety-one percent of providers surveyed reported being satisfied with UPD and nearly nine-in-ten would recommend it to their peers.

Many healthcare organizations worked together to develop UPD as a shared solution to address common frustrations and unnecessary spending driven by the fragmented, redundant and inconsistent nature of provider data. Growing use of UPD by providers and healthcare organizations is helping to address these problems and improve coordination of efforts.

"The success of UPD demonstrates the impact that health plans, hospitals, healthcare providers, government agencies and other organizations can have when they work together to improve the efficiency of the healthcare system, and offers a promising model for future industry collaboration," said CAQH Board Chair David S. Wichmann, executive vice president, UnitedHealth Group and president, UnitedHealth Group Operations.

In addition to the one million licensed healthcare providers now using the tool, more than 650 participating healthcare organizations rely on UPD as a reliable and cost-effective source for provider data. UPD meets data collection requirements of healthcare quality accreditation agencies, including the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA), URAC and the Joint Commission, and has been adopted as a standard form for provider credentialing in 12 states and the District of Columbia. For more information on UPD, please visit caqh.org/onemillion.

About CAQH
CAQH serves as a catalyst for industry collaboration on initiatives that simplify healthcare administration for health plans and providers, resulting in a better care experience for patients and caregivers. CAQH solutions help promote quality interactions between plans, providers and other stakeholders; reduce costs and frustrations associated with healthcare administration; facilitate administrative healthcare information exchange; and encourage administrative and clinical data integration. Visit www.caqh.org for more information. Follow us on Twitter at @caqh.

SOURCE CAQH