DataSpring (Formerly CAQH) Profile Setup for Therapists
A DataSpring profile is the online credentialing file that many insurance companies read when they enroll you. DataSpring is the platform formerly known as CAQH, and its provider tool is still reached through CAQH ProView. You fill it out once, keep it current, and authorize each payer to view it. A clean profile saves you from answering the same questions on every application.
What is a DataSpring profile?
It is a single, shared record of your professional history: license, education, work history, malpractice coverage and practice locations. Payers do not all enroll you the same way, but many ask for your profile ID so they can pull the data themselves. Think of it as the master copy of your credentialing paperwork. If you are new to the process, start with our guide to credentialing for new therapists and our explainer on credentialing vs enrollment.
How do you set up a DataSpring profile in 6 steps?
- Get your NPI first. Confirm your National Provider Identifier in NPPES. Your name, taxonomy and address should match what you enter later.
- Create or claim your profile. Register through the provider portal. If a payer or group already started one for you, ask for the profile ID instead of making a duplicate.
- Enter your history. Add education, licenses, work history and every practice location. Explain any gap in work history.
- Upload your documents. See the list below.
- Authorize the payers. A payer can only view your profile after you grant access to it.
- Attest. Review everything, then attest that it is accurate. Put the next attestation date on your calendar.
For a plain-language walk through the older CAQH steps, see 3 Things to Know About CAQH Profile Setup.
What documents go into your DataSpring profile?
One Blue Cross plan’s CAQH quick reference lists the uploads for new users: a current CV, your license, DEA and controlled-substance certificates where they apply, a W-9, a malpractice insurance face sheet and a malpractice case summary. Psychiatrists who prescribe should have the DEA and state controlled-substance certificates ready. Psychotherapists usually skip those two. Scan every file in color and make sure the dates are readable. Our credentialing terms glossary explains the vocabulary.
How often do you re-attest your DataSpring profile?
Re-attestation is regular, not one-time. The Blue Cross guide above says to re-attest every 120 days, with a different window for Illinois providers. Your own profile shows your next due date, so check it rather than trusting a rule of thumb. A lapsed attestation can stall an application or a renewal.
Private payers vs Medicare vs Medicaid
Private payers. Many commercial plans read your profile. Each plan still has its own contract and timeline, and some use their own forms.
Medicare. Medicare enrollment runs through PECOS and your NPPES record, not through DataSpring. See the CMS enrollment page.
Medicaid. Each state runs its own enrollment, and some managed care plans ask for a profile while others do not. This varies by state, so check the state Medicaid site and the plan before you assume.
Mistakes that slow credentialing
- Addresses that do not match your NPPES record.
- Expired license or insurance uploads.
- Forgetting to authorize a payer.
- Letting the attestation lapse.
For the full picture, read our credentialing and network status guide, our insurance credentialing for therapists overview and in-network vs out-of-network credentialing. When you need a payer’s contact details, use our insurance companies contact directory. See how MCM South handles credentialing and who we serve. Related: what a billing service for therapists includes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between DataSpring and CAQH?
DataSpring is the platform formerly known as CAQH. Providers still reach their profile through CAQH ProView, so the two names often appear together.
Do I need a DataSpring profile to see Medicare patients?
No. Medicare enrollment uses PECOS and NPPES. A DataSpring profile matters for the private payers that read it.
Can a billing service manage my profile?
A billing or credentialing service can help prepare and track it, but you must attest that the information is accurate, since the attestation is yours.
How long does credentialing take once my profile is complete?
It varies by payer and state. A complete, current profile removes one common cause of delay, but each payer sets its own timeline.
Treat your DataSpring profile as a living file. A DataSpring profile that has lapsed can pause an application, so review the DataSpring profile every quarter and after any license, address or insurance change.
Where MCM South Medical Billing Service Works
MCM South Medical Billing Service, LLC works with psychotherapists and psychiatrists in our ten currently served states: Georgia, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Texas, Florida, New York, Colorado, Tennessee, North Carolina and Illinois.
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