Drowning in Credentialing Acronyms? We’ve Got You.

Let’s be honest—if you’ve ever tried to navigate the world of medical credentialing, it probably felt like you were reading alphabet soup. CAQH, NPI, PECOS, DEA, CMS, EIN, TIN, EFT, ERA, CAQH ProView®, Medicare PTAN... the list goes on.

If your head is spinning, take a deep breath.

You’re not alone.

And more importantly—this is exactly why Bridge Credentialing Solutions exists.

What Do All These Credentialing Acronyms Mean?

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of some of the most common acronyms that show up in the credentialing process:

• NPI – National Provider Identifier

• CAQH – Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare

• PECOS – Provider Enrollment, Chain, and Ownership System

• EIN – Employer Identification Number

• TIN – Tax Identification Number

• DEA – Drug Enforcement Administration registration

• PTAN – Provider Transaction Access Number (for Medicare)

• CMS – Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services

• EFT – Electronic Funds Transfer

• ERA – Electronic Remittance Advice

• UB04/1500 – Standard billing forms (hospital vs. individual provider)

Some of these you'll need to just get started. Others come up later, usually at the worst time—like when you're waiting to get paid.

Here's the Thing:

Most providers didn’t go to school to become experts in paperwork and payer portals. You went to school to provide care, to help people. But if you’re not enrolled with the right insurance panels, your clients can’t see you—or you don’t get paid.

And when the acronyms start flying, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed, stuck, or worse—held back.

That's Where We Come In

At Bridge Credentialing Solutions, we’re fluent in acronym. You don’t need to know what they all mean—we do. Our job is to bridge the path between where you are now and where you want to be: credentialed, in-network, and thriving.

We handle the:

• Research on payer enrollment requirements

• CAQH profile management and attestation

• Medicare and Medicaid enrollment (PECOS, PTANs, and all the rest)

• EFT/ERA setup so your money gets to you faster

• Ongoing recredentialing and maintenance

• And every single confusing form in between

So if you're sitting there thinking:

"I don’t even know what half of those acronyms mean."

That’s perfectly okay.

You don’t need to know everything. You just need the right guide.

Bridge Credentialing Solutions is here to translate the chaos, advocate for you, and make sure no acronym ever gets in the way of your mission to serve.

Ready to bridge the path to simpler credentialing?

Let’s talk. Your first step is easier than you think.