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Ask the expert: Do all credentialing verification requests require a written consent form?

Credentialing Resource Center Connection, June 28, 2007

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No. The following are guidelines you might wish to consider as part of a medical staff confidentiality policy:

When responding to requests from hospitals, credentialing verification organizations, managed care organizations, or insurance companies, medical staff offices (MSO) can verify the following information by telephone or in writing without a written consent form from the practitioner:

• Staff status and dates on staff
• Specialty
• Statements that the physician has "privileges in good standing," meaning that the practitioner's hospital privileges are current and active and enable him or her to admit patients

However, a specific, signed authorization and release, or copy thereof, is typically needed for the medical director's office to release additional information contained in the physician's credentials file, including past or current disciplinary actions and results of quality improvement activities.

This week's question is brought to you by HCPro's Briefings on Credentialing, June 2007 newsletter. For more on this topic or to subscribe, click here.

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