Credentialing by payer
Join the Premera Blue Cross Network
Enrollments are billed 50% at the start and 50% at submission; everything else 100% at the start.
- 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
Premera Blue Cross at a Glance
| Service area | Washington and Alaska. To contract in Washington you must provide care primarily in the state; practitioners in an adjacent county may qualify. |
|---|---|
| How to request to join | Credentialing first, then contracting through Premera's Join Our Network page. You can request an individual contract or join one of Premera's contracted IPAs or medical groups. Start here |
| Portal | Availity, for eligibility, claims, prior authorization and fee schedules. |
| CAQH ProView (DataSpring) | Not listed. OneHealthPort's 2024 Washington health plan reference lists Premera as taking applications by fax, email or mail rather than through CAQH. |
| Behavioral health | Premera has a dedicated resource page for behavioral health, associate behavioral health, ABA and mobile crisis providers, and its county matrix shows Washington counties closed to new behavioral health counselors. |
| Published turnaround | Allow 30 to 45 days for Premera to respond to the credentialing application. The welcome letter arrives within a week of completed credentialing, and contract loading takes up to 5 days after the countersigned contract is received. |
| Recredentialing | Every three years, or the contract can be cancelled. |
How Premera Blue Cross Takes Applications
Premera credentials before it contracts. Applications go to Credentialing.Updates@Premera.com with copies of the DEA certificate, all current state licenses, the professional liability certificate, a W-9 and explanations for any yes answers. Once credentialed, the fully executed contract comes through DocuSign and shows the effective date.
What to Watch With Premera Blue Cross
The credentialing date and the contract effective date are different dates; see members and submit claims only after the contract effective date. Common reasons applications stall: incomplete address or phone, missing Tax ID or W-9, expired malpractice, incomplete work history and missing hospital privileges. Provider customer service is at 877-342-5258.
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 Premera Blue Cross
How do I apply to Premera Blue Cross?
Credentialing first, then contracting through Premera's Join Our Network page. You can request an individual contract or join one of Premera's contracted IPAs or medical groups.
How long does Premera Blue Cross credentialing take?
Allow 30 to 45 days for Premera to respond to the credentialing application. The welcome letter arrives within a week of completed credentialing, and contract loading takes up to 5 days after the countersigned contract is received. Recredentialing: Every three years, or the contract can be cancelled.
Does Premera Blue Cross use CAQH (DataSpring)?
Not listed. OneHealthPort's 2024 Washington health plan reference lists Premera as taking applications by fax, email or mail rather than through CAQH.
How do therapists join Premera Blue Cross?
Premera has a dedicated resource page for behavioral health, associate behavioral health, ABA and mobile crisis providers, and its county matrix shows Washington counties closed to new behavioral health counselors.
What does PECS charge for a Premera Blue Cross application?
$200 per application per provider, half at engagement and half at submission, including follow-up with Premera Blue Cross 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
- Premera Washington: New provider onboarding
- Premera Washington: Join our network
- OneHealthPort: Washington health plan credentialing for the CAQH transition (V6, May 2024)
Facts checked against the sources above in October 2026; plan procedures change.