California’s Assembly Bill 1041 (AB 1041) will soon transform provider credentialing requirements for health care service plans and insurers. Beginning January 1, 2026, health plans and insurers will be held to strict deadlines and new requirements.
What’s Changing
Under AB 1041, health care service plans and insurers must:
- Complete credentialing within 90 days – Effective January 1, 2026, provider applications must be reviewed, verified, and decided on within 90 days of submission.
- Acknowledge applications within 10 business days – Credentialing teams must confirm receipt and completeness quickly.
- Issue conditional approval if deadlines aren’t met – Unless there are serious red flags, delays will trigger automatic conditional approvals.
The Standardized Form Is Coming
By July 1, 2027, California will require a single, standardized credentialing form for all health care service plans and insurers—making outdated, inconsistent processes a thing of the past.
What This Means for Providers
While AB 1041 doesn’t impose new operational requirements on providers, it creates an opportunity:
- Faster payer responses → quicker onboarding and earlier reimbursement.
- Less paperwork → a standardized form reduces back-and-forth.
- More accountability → payers face the compliance risk, not you.
The Goal is Simple
Streamline credentialing, reduce bottlenecks, and get qualified providers into networks faster. The key for providers? Submitting accurate, complete, and timely applications so you’re ready to benefit the moment payers are required to move faster.
How HealthRecon Connect Helps Providers Get Ahead
At HealthRecon Connect, we don’t just “wait and see.” We help providers turn regulatory changes into real operational wins by:
- Revamping your new provider intake process using our Credentialing Application
- Auditing your provider data for completeness and accuracy.
- Streamlining your credentialing submissions so they sail through payer reviews.
- Reducing administrative strain, so you benefit from the payer’s new deadlines without getting stuck in the backlog.
Partner with HealthRecon Connect and make sure your applications are airtight, and your revenue starts without delay.
