PAYER READY CREDENTIALING & COMPLIANCE
Behavioral Health

How to Get Credentialed with Evernorth Behavioral Health in California

Network: Open
30-90 Days CAQH Required

Quick Overview

Timeline

30 - 90 days

CAQH

Required

Re-credentialing

Every 3 year(s)

Delegated

No

How Evernorth Behavioral Health Credentialing Actually Works

Verified July 2026

Apply Through

Evernorth Behavioral Health

Timeline

Not published by the payer

Recredentialing

Cigna networks recredential every three years in most states

Cigna's behavioral network is a fully separate entity: Evernorth Behavioral Health, renamed from Cigna Behavioral Health in September 2021. Behavioral clinicians contact Evernorth directly at (800) 926-2273 and credential there using CAQH ProView.

Behavioral health routing: Evernorth credentials licensed clinical social workers, professional counselors, marriage and family therapists, and psychologists directly.

The stall to avoid: Filing behavioral credentialing through Cigna medical routes you to the wrong entity and the application stalls. Grant CAQH access permission or the electronic pull silently fails.

From PayerReady's payer enrollment research, built from the payer's own provider manuals and enrollment pages. Payer processes change; when a fact is not published by the payer, we say so rather than guess.

California-Specific Requirements

Evernorth Behavioral Health — formerly Cigna Behavioral Health (renamed September 1, 2021) — is the behavioral network for Cigna Healthcare members. IMPORTANT: as of June 1, 2026, Evernorth has paused accepting applications from new individual and clinic behavioral providers; affected clinicians should complete the Provider Interest Form to be notified when applications reopen (revisit after September 1, 2026). Facility applications are still accepted, and applications started before June 1, 2026 are unaffected. When open, providers apply via the Provider Information Form, then complete and attest a CAQH ProView application. Requirements include an unrestricted state license, NPI, current DEA certificate where applicable, board certification if applicable, and professional liability insurance (typically $1M per occurrence / $3M aggregate unless the state mandates lower). The join process can take up to 90 days; applications must be signed within 180 days. Recredentialing occurs every three years. Provider Services: 1-800-926-2273. California providers are subject to SB 137 directory-accuracy rules and SB 855 (LOCUS/CALOCUS-CASII medical-necessity criteria).

Step-by-Step Enrollment Process

1

Gather Required Documents

Collect all necessary credentials including your medical license, DEA certificate, malpractice insurance, NPI number, and any state-specific requirements for California.

2

Complete Your CAQH ProView Profile

Evernorth Behavioral Health requires a current CAQH ProView profile. Create or update your profile at proview.caqh.org and attest within 120 days.

3

Submit Your Application

Submit your completed enrollment package to Evernorth Behavioral Health.

4

Track & Follow Up

Credentialing typically takes 30-90 days. Monitor your application status and respond promptly to requests for additional information.

Free Consultation

Need help enrolling with Evernorth Behavioral Health?

Our specialists handle the entire Evernorth Behavioral Health enrollment process: applications, follow-ups, and approvals in California.

Required Documents Checklist

Board Certification

Conditional

Required if board certified in psychiatry or behavioral health specialty

CV/Resume

5-year work history minimum

DEA License

Conditional

Required if prescribing controlled substances (psychiatrists, APRNs)

Malpractice Insurance

Current malpractice insurance certificate

Medical License

Active state license (MD, DO, PhD, PsyD, LCSW, LPC, etc.)

NPI Certificate

Active NPI number required

Enrollment Forms

Evernorth Behavioral Health Provider Application

Provider application for the Evernorth (Cigna) behavioral health network.

Required
Online Open →

Key Credentialing Terms

CAQH
The Council for Affordable Quality Health Care, an organization that maintains a universal provider database (CAQH ProVi...
Collaborative Practice Agreement
A formal written agreement between a physician and a nurse practitioner or physician assistant defining the terms of the...
Credentialing
The process of verifying a healthcare provider's qualifications, training, licensure, and professional background to ens...
Effective Date
The date on which a provider's enrollment or network participation becomes active, allowing them to begin billing a paye...
NPI
The National Provider Identifier is a unique 10-digit identification number issued by CMS to healthcare providers, requi...
Peer Review
A process in which a provider's clinical performance, decision-making, and outcomes are evaluated by other qualified pro...
Primary Source Verification
The process of verifying a provider's credentials directly from the original issuing source, such as medical schools, li...
Provider Enrollment
The process by which a healthcare provider applies to participate in an insurance payer's network, allowing the provider...

Credentialing Checklist

Make sure you have everything ready before applying to Evernorth Behavioral Health.

View Physician Credentialing Checklist →

Contact Information

Provider Credentialing

National

1-800-882-4462

Mon-Fri 8am-5pm

Provider Services

National

1-800-882-4462

Claims & Billing

National

1-800-882-4462

Need Help?

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Reviewed by the PayerReady Credentialing Team

Our credentialing specialists verify every article against current CMS regulations, NCQA standards, and payer-specific enrollment requirements. See our editorial process.

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