Provider credentialing is getting a long-overdue makeover. Health tech company CertifyOS is launching its National Shared Credentialing Program, with three of the country's biggest insurers — UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, and Centene — already on board. The program aims to replace today's fragmented, duplicative system, where providers must separately apply to each health plan they contract with, with a single standardized submission process across all participating payers.

The current setup is a drain on everyone. Providers submit an average of 17 credentialing applications per year, costing roughly $700 each in time and expenses. Payers, meanwhile, spend $200–$500 per credentialing cycle — multiplied across dozens of contracted systems. CertifyOS will manage the process on behalf of health plans, verifying submissions against NCQA and Medicaid standards in one unified workflow. Between 1.4 and 2 million providers are expected to credential through the platform next year.

By the Numbers:

• $2B+ spent annually by the U.S. health system on provider credentialing
• 75% potential cost reduction if the process is unified
• 17 average credentialing applications submitted per provider per year
• $700 average cost per provider per year in credentialing expenses
• $200–$500 cost per credentialing cycle for payers

Why it matters: Streamlining credentialing isn't just an administrative win — it directly affects how quickly providers can join networks and start seeing patients. Less time buried in paperwork means more time on patient care, and a leaner system could free up billions in healthcare spending.