| Managed care organizations like health management | | | | Overview of Credentialing |
| organizations (HMO) and independent provider | | | | The two major accrediting organizations for managed |
| associations (IPA) are required to credential their | | | | care organizations are the National Committee for |
| providers, meaning they have to verify the medical | | | | Quality Assurance (NCQA) and Utilization Review |
| provider's professional history. Because of the | | | | Accreditation Council (URAC) As part of their |
| dispersed nature of managed care organizations and | | | | accreditation requirements, both URAC and NCQA |
| the resource requirements of the credentialing | | | | require managed care organizations to credential their |
| process, credentialing verification organizations (CVO) | | | | providers according to their published standards. |
| step in to provide these credentialing services. | | | | |