Dentists to experience no interruption in ADA Credentialing Service

Since 2017, the American Dental Association has worked with the Council for Affordable Quality Healthcare — the healthcare industry stakeholder group better known as CAQH — to help reduce administrative burdens associated with credentialing.

Through the ADA Credentialing Service, powered by CAQH, dentists can store their credentialing information for free in the CAQH Provider Data Portal, where multiple dental plans can access it, instead of submitting the same information repeatedly to different plans.

This week, CAQH rebranded to DataSpring, powered by CAQH. ADA members who use the ADA Credentialing Service, powered by CAQH, can continue to do so with no interruption in service. CAQH is in the process of contacting providers to inform them of its rebrand.

In January, CAQH also transitioned from a not-for-profit organization to a for-profit entity. CAQH was formed by health plans more than 25 years ago as a collaborative initiative to solve challenges around administrative processes, data quality and access constraints. It is now owned by 12 shareholder companies affiliated with health plans.

The ADA has reviewed public-facing materials, including website content, to ensure they remain accurate and aligned with any confirmed organizational changes, and it will continue to monitor developments and assess potential implications for ADA members and other stakeholders.

Below are answers to questions dentists may have about the rebrand and business model change.

Q: Will use of the ADA Credentialing Service, powered by CAQH, continue to be free to dentists?
A: Yes. The ADA Credentialing Service and use of the CAQH Provider Data Portal continue to be free to all dentists, both members and nonmembers. While there is no indication DataSpring, powered by CAQH, plans on changing its business model to begin charging providers, the ADA will monitor this issue and hold the company to its agreement with the ADA to offer its services for free.

Q: What should dentists expect with this change?   
A: Dentists should expect to see communications from DataSpring, powered by CAQH, under the new branding. Aside from this, dentists should not perceive other changes. In case there are unanticipated issues, members are encouraged to reach out to the ADA at msc@ada.org.

Q: What control do dentists have over their information within the CAQH Provider Data Portal?
A: Dentists currently have the ability to select or limit the plans or organizations with which they share their information. Any dentist with a CAQH profile can choose to review every health plan that requests access to their information. More common is the alternative, where dentists and all other providers select "global" authorization, and any organization that requests access can review the data.

Q: Following the business model change, do the payer owners have any additional access or rights to dentist data stored within the CAQH Provider Data Portal aside from what each payer may have as a portal user, as authorized by dentist users and subject to CAQH’s terms of use?
A: No. The same data access, privacy and security policies, processes, and compliance frameworks remain in place. There is no impact to current services, service level agreements, contracts, pricing, points of contact, or security and privacy commitments.

Q: What are the current terms of use that outline how dentist data is governed? Have there been any updates or changes in this area?
A: The terms of use align with what is in CAQH’s privacy policy and terms of service, both of which are on the company’s website. The privacy policy language was updated in 2025 to comply with laws and more accurately describe the company’s services. The terms are consistent for all providers.

Q: What are the next steps for the ADA?   
A: The Association will continue to communicate with the executive leadership at DataSpring, powered by CAQH, to ensure that the operations of the ADA Credentialing Service, powered by CAQH, remain free and continue as expected for dentists.