Credentialing Criteria and Standards

First Choice VIP Care Plus (Medicare-Medicaid Plan) conducts credentialing and re-credentialing criteria for all professional providers to verify that the requirements of 42 CFR 422.502 (i) (4) (iv), at a minimum, are met.

First Choice VIP Care Plus' criteria include:

1. Current medical licensure
2. No revocation or suspension of the provider's license by the State Board of Medicine and Surgery
3. Disclosure related to ownership and management (42 CFR 455.104), business transactions (42 CFR 455.105) and conviction of crimes (42 CFR 455.106)
4. Proof of the provider's medical school graduation, completion of residency and other postgraduate training. Evidence of board certification is acceptable in lieu of proof of medical school graduation, residency and other postgraduate training
5. Evidence of specialty board certification, if applicable
6. Evidence of the provider's professional liability coverage; and malpractice claims history
7. Satisfactory review of any sanctions imposed on the provider by Medicare or Healthy Connections Medicaid
8. The provider's Medicare identification number, Medicaid ID number, Medicaid provider registration number or documentation of submission of the Medicaid provider registration form whenever applicable

In addition, First Choice VIP Care Plus' credentialing and re-credentialing processes include verification of the following additional requirements for physicians:

1. For primary care physicians and specialists - privileges in good standing at the hospital designated by the PCP as the primary admitting facility; or, if the PCP does not have admitting privileges, privileges in good standing at the hospital for another provider with whom the PCP has entered into an arrangement for hospital coverage
2. Valid Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) certificate, where applicable