What is CAQH?
CAQH (Council for Affordable Quality Health Care) operates the Universal Provider Datasource (UPD), a centralized credentialing database used by over 1.4 million providers and 900+ health plans to streamline provider enrollment and credentialing.
Updated February 2026
CAQH Explained
CAQH ProView (the provider-facing application) allows providers to enter their credentialing information once and share it with multiple health plans simultaneously. Instead of filling out separate applications for each insurance company, a provider completes one CAQH profile that participating plans can access.
The CAQH system stores provider demographics, education, training, licensure, malpractice history, hospital affiliations, and practice locations. Health plans use this data to process credentialing applications, verify provider information, and maintain their network directories.
For healthcare data companies and B2B teams, CAQH is significant because it's the most complete credentialing database in the US. It contains detailed provider information that goes beyond what's available in NPPES, including verified education credentials, hospital affiliations, and insurance network participation. However, CAQH data is not publicly accessible. Access requires being a participating health plan, CVO, or authorized entity.
Why CAQH Matters for Healthcare Data
CAQH streamlines credentialing, which is relevant if you sell credentialing software, provider data services, or network management solutions to health plans. Understanding CAQH helps you position your product in the credentialing workflow and identify which organizations are likely CAQH participants.
Real-World Example
A credentialing software startup builds an integration with CAQH ProView to auto-populate provider applications. By pulling verified data from CAQH, they reduce the average credentialing application time from 3 hours to 20 minutes per provider. Their sales pitch centers on CAQH integration as a key differentiator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is CAQH required for credentialing?
CAQH is not legally required, but it's the de facto standard. Over 900 health plans and 1.4 million providers use the system. Most commercial health plans expect providers to maintain current CAQH profiles.
Can I access CAQH data for sales prospecting?
No. CAQH data is restricted to participating health plans, credentialing verification organizations, and authorized entities. It's not available for general B2B sales or marketing use.
What is CAQH ProView?
CAQH ProView is the provider-facing application where healthcare providers enter and maintain their credentialing information. It replaced the earlier Universal Provider Datasource (UPD) as the primary provider interface.
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