Oregon to streamline provider credentialing

Provider credentialing in Oregon is on its way to becoming more streamlined under a bill that mandates healthcare entities use a single credentialing system by 2016. The initiative, known as SB 604, requires the Oregon Health Authority to establish an electronic database for credentialing organizations, including hospitals, insurance companies, and other facilities. Oregon is the first state to mandate the use of a single credentialing system; the bill was overwhelmingly supported in the state legislature.

The bill was signed by Governor John Kitzhaber on July 1 and goes into effect January 1, 2014. The state now has nearly 18 months to decide on a vendor, user fees, and how much vetting the system will perform. It's unclear whether information entered about a physician will go through an initial validation check, or if it will be taken at face value, which would then require the healthcare facility to continue to check out a physician's background.

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