Credentialing can feel like a black box. You hand over documents, applications go out, and then you wait. When things take longer than you hoped, it is natural to wonder who is responsible. The honest answer is that credentialing involves three parties, and each one controls different parts of the process.
We think clients make better decisions when they know exactly where those lines are. So here is how we see it.
Three parties, three sets of responsibilities
Every credentialing project involves your practice, which holds the licenses, documents and business decisions; a credentialing partner like Maverick, which prepares and manages the applications; and payers and agencies, such as health plans, Medicare, Texas Medicaid and licensing boards, which review and decide.
What we control
- A complete and accurate file. We collect your documents, check them against your license, NPPES, CAQH and work history, and fix inconsistencies before anything is submitted. Most avoidable delays start with an incomplete or inconsistent file.
- Prompt submission. When your file is complete, we submit it. It does not wait on our side.
- Regular follow-up. We follow up with payers and agencies, answer their requests for more information, and push applications forward where a follow-up can help.
- Keeping you updated. You know where each application stands, what we are waiting on, and what we need from you.
- A clear plan. We help you decide which payers and enrollments to pursue first, based on your patients and your practice.
What payers and agencies control
- Review and decision times. Each payer or agency sets its own workload and process. Some move quickly; some do not.
- Network decisions. Commercial plans can decide a network is full in your area or specialty. Being qualified does not guarantee a contract.
- Requests for more information. Reviewers may ask for clarification or additional documents, sometimes more than once.
- Effective dates and rates. Each payer sets the date you become active and the terms it offers, although contract terms can sometimes be discussed.
- Site visits and screenings. Medicare, Texas Medicaid and some others schedule site visits or background checks on their own timelines.
Our article on how long credentialing takes explains why review times vary so widely.
What you control
- Responding quickly when we or a payer ask for a document or signature.
- Keeping licenses, insurance and other credentials current.
- Telling us early about changes, such as a new location, a new hire or a change in ownership.
- Making business decisions, like your entity structure, before applications go out.
Why we are upfront about this
Some companies promise approval by a specific date. We do not, because those dates belong to someone else. What we can promise is that the parts within our control will be done carefully and promptly, and that you will never be left guessing about where things stand.
We have found that clients who understand these lines are less stressed and better prepared. They plan start dates, schedules and cash flow around realistic expectations, and they know who to ask when something feels stuck.
How this shows up in our work
Our packages are built around the parts we control. Maverick Launch: Solo and Maverick Launch: Group handle new setups from the first document to active participation. Autopilot keeps established practices current so nothing lapses. Platform Exit helps clinicians move to their own contracts, and Rate Check reviews contracts you already have. You can see how we work on our how it works page.
When an application feels stuck
Every credentialing project has quiet stretches. Sometimes that means a payer is simply working through its queue. Sometimes it means something needs attention, such as a missing document, a mismatch between records, or a request that went to the wrong contact. Our job is to tell the difference and act on the part we can influence.
When an application seems stuck, we check the file for anything we can fix, follow up with the payer or agency, and let you know what we learned. If a payer needs something from you, we tell you exactly what and why. If the answer is that the payer is still reviewing, we tell you that too, rather than guessing at a date.
Questions to ask any credentialing partner
- What exactly will you do, and what will I need to do?
- How will you keep me updated?
- What happens if a payer asks for more information?
- Who will I talk to when I have a question?
- How do you handle things after I am approved, like recredentialing and revalidation?
We are happy to answer every one of these before you decide.
If you want to see how these lines play out in specific situations, our guides on setting up a CAQH profile and recredentialing show where your part, our part and the payer's part meet.
How Maverick can help with your credentialing
- Honest expectations from day one. We tell you up front what we will handle, what depends on payers, and what we need from you.
- A complete and accurate file. We gather, check and line up your documents and data before anything is submitted, so the application agrees with itself and with the other records a reviewer will check.
- Prompt submission. Once your file is complete, we submit it. It does not sit in a queue on our side.
- Regular follow-up. We follow up with the payer or agency and handle requests for more information on your behalf.
- Keeping you updated. You always know where each application stands and what, if anything, we need from you.
What we do not control is how long a payer, board or state agency takes to review your file. Those decisions belong to them, and we will never promise a date on their behalf.
Sources: No regulatory facts stated beyond general process descriptions; see linked guides for payer and agency specifics. Verified October 2026.