Credentialing by payer
Join the Optum Behavioral Health Network
- Flat PricesNo percentage of collections
- Half Now, Half at SubmissionFor every enrollment application
- Closed Network?Your choice of a refund or a credit
- Live Status TrackingCheck any application by reference number
Optum Behavioral Health at a Glance
| Service area | National; recruiting needs are posted state by state on Provider Express. |
|---|---|
| How to request to join | Check your license against the state list, register or log in to Provider Express, then use the Join Our Network feature to start the credentialing application. Start here |
| Portal | Provider Express |
| CAQH ProView (DataSpring) | Required in most states: enter your CAQH ID, authorize United Behavioral Health/US Behavioral Health Plan in CAQH ProView, and make CAQH match the Optum NPRF form. |
| Behavioral health | Optum is itself the behavioral health network for UnitedHealthcare, which sends behavioral health clinicians here rather than to Onboard Pro. |
How Optum Behavioral Health Takes Applications
Optum's application lives entirely inside Provider Express. Before it opens, you attest that you hold an eligible, unrestricted license from the state list. Missing documents are requested by DocuSign, and status is under Check Initial Credentialing Status in My Network Status.
What to Watch With Optum Behavioral Health
Mismatches slow or cancel the file: the group and practice locations on CAQH (DataSpring) must match the Network Participation form, and the W-9 must carry the right Tax ID. In New Jersey, Optum lists recruiting needs for telemental health providers, MAT prescribers and Express Access providers who can see members within 5 business days.
Whatever the plan, the file moves only when your CAQH (DataSpring) profile, license record and application agree. See how long credentialing takes and our CAQH profile setup service.
Questions About Optum Behavioral Health
How do I apply to Optum Behavioral Health?
Check your license against the state list, register or log in to Provider Express, then use the Join Our Network feature to start the credentialing application.
How long does Optum Behavioral Health credentialing take?
Optum Behavioral Health does not publish a turnaround on the provider pages we checked; most commercial plans land between 90 and 120 days from a complete file.
Does Optum Behavioral Health use CAQH (DataSpring)?
Required in most states: enter your CAQH ID, authorize United Behavioral Health/US Behavioral Health Plan in CAQH ProView, and make CAQH match the Optum NPRF form.
How do therapists join Optum Behavioral Health?
Optum is itself the behavioral health network for UnitedHealthcare, which sends behavioral health clinicians here rather than to Onboard Pro.
What does PECS charge for an Optum Behavioral Health application?
$200 per application per provider, half at engagement and half at submission, including follow-up with Optum Behavioral Health until the effective date is set.
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Answers cover PECS services, prices and process. For legal, tax or clinical questions please consult a professional.
Sources
- Provider Express: Individually credentialed clinicians
- Provider Express: New Jersey
- UnitedHealthcare: Join our network, medical provider
Facts checked against the sources above in October 2026; plan procedures change.