California therapists: here’s the 120‑day CAQH ProView attestation playbook
I once lost a panel spot because my CAQH attestation lapsed during vacation. Payers never called—they just flipped my credential to “inactive.” Here’s how I make sure that never happens again.
CAQH ProView for Therapists: Pass Attestation Every 120 Days
According to CAQH, over 2.6 million providers rely on ProView to share a single credentialing profile with 1,000+ payers. The hitch? You must re‑attest every 120 days (≈4 months) or plans can suspend payments. (caqh.org)
What Payers Actually Check
| Section in CAQH | Primary items verified | Payer red‑flags |
|---|---|---|
| Practice Locations | Physical & mailing address, phone, fax. | PO Box listed as service site; conflicting phone numbers. |
| License & Education | CA BBS/BOP license, graduate degree. | Missing expiration date; unmatched name spelling. |
| Liability Insurance | Policy #, limits ≥$1 M/$3 M, expiration. | Lapsed coverage or low limits. |
| Work History | Past 5 yrs of employment gaps ≤30 days explained. | Unexplained 6‑month gap. |
| Disclosure Questions | Malpractice claims, sanctions. | “Yes” w/out detailed explanation. |
Tip: Medi‑Cal MCPs import CAQH profiles weekly via delegated credentialing vendors (Optum/Availity). An incomplete profile delays panel approval even if you uploaded docs elsewhere.
My 120‑Day Document Checklist
The moment CAQH emails the “Re‑attestation Due” notice, I open this folder:
- 🟢 California License PDF (downloaded from BBS site).
- 🟢 Malpractice Certificate (current policy period, signed).
- 🟢 Driver’s License scan (color, front & back).
- 🟢 Voided Check (bank account for EFT).
- 🟢 W‑9 (current year, EIN + signature).
- 🟢 CEU transcripts (if any new coursework >20 hrs).
- 🟢 Gap Explanation Letter (template, edit dates).
I drag‑and‑drop updates, click Attest, and PDF the confirmation for my records.
Automating Reminders (So You Never Miss Again)
- Calendar blocks: Set a recurring 110‑day reminder in Google Calendar titled “CAQH Attestation.”
- Practice‑management integration: SimplePractice now pings you 14 days before the CAQH due date (toggle in Settings → Integrations).
- Zapier flow: Trigger “CAQH email received” → Send push notification to phone + Slack DM.
Set the reminders at 110 days—gives you 10 days buffer for vacation or document snags.
Quick Fixes for the 5 Most‑Common CAQH Errors
| Error message | Why it happens | The fix |
|---|---|---|
| “Unable to validate license.” | Name mismatch (e.g., married name). | Edit Provider Name to exactly match BBS license. |
| “Malpractice coverage below minimum.” | Policy limits ≤$500K/$1M. | Upload current $1M/$3M certificate or add umbrella rider. |
| “Gap in work history >30 days.” | Sabbatical, caregiving break. | Upload Gap Explanation letter—one paragraph suffices. |
| “Social Security # verification failed.” | Typo or CAQH credit‑check freeze. | Re‑enter SSN; if still fails, unfreeze Equifax for 24 hrs. |
| Status stuck at ‘Pending Payer Review’ >30 days. | Attachment missing or unreadable. | Re‑upload as PDF ≤5 MB; email provider rep with CAQH ID. |
FAQs
Author
Mason Anglin, LMFT
Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist, California
Credentialing nerd; zero missed attestations since 2023.
Not Legal or Billing Advice
This article is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal, billing, or tax advice. Always verify requirements with CAQH and your individual payers.
Sources
- CAQH ProView Provider User Guide (v4.5, April 2025).
- CAQH ProView – Frequently Asked Questions (accessed Aug 2 2025).
- CAQH Webinar: Best Practices for 120‑Day Attestation (June 2024).
