BH Payer Enrollment Timeline — 2026 Realistic Guide

Major Commercial Payers

• Aetna BH: 90-120 days (credentialing) + 60-90 days (contracting)
• Cigna BH: 90-120 days + 45-90 days
• UnitedHealthcare Commercial: 120-180 days + 60-120 days
• Optum Behavioral Health: 120-180 days + 90-180 days (SLOW)
• Carelon Behavioral: 90-150 days + 60-120 days
• Beacon Health Options: 90-120 days + 60-90 days

State Medicaid MCOs

• State fee-for-service enrollment: 60-120 days
• Individual MCO enrollments (Anthem, Molina, WellCare, CareSource, Amerigroup, etc.): 60-90 days each
• Total for full state MCO panel: 90-180 days

Regional Blues

• State BCBS: 120-180 days total
• Historically slower than commercial payers

Medicare

• Medicare Part B enrollment: 60-120 days
• Medicare Advantage plans: individual timelines per plan

How to Accelerate

• CAQH ProView complete + current: -30 days per payer
• Attach malpractice + license upfront: -15 days per payer
• Named contact at each payer: -30 days per payer
• Specialty designation clarity: -10 days per payer

Revenant Care Credentialing Services

– KD, Revenant Care