Does Candor Health replace NPPES and CAQH?
No. NPPES and CAQH are inputs. Candor Health takes both in alongside 120,000+ other sources and 4 billion+ claims a month, then scores what is true today. You keep using them for what they are for.
The plain answer
NPPES and CAQH record what providers report, and Candor Health checks what is actually true
Both registries are essential, and both depend on the provider updating their own record. That is the gap Candor Health fills.
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01
What is NPPES?
CMS: NPPES data disseminationNPPES is the CMS system that issues National Provider Identifiers. Providers report and update their own records, which they must do within 30 days of a change, and CMS publishes the data free through the NPI Registry, an API and bulk files. It is the authoritative source for the NPI itself.
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02
What is CAQH?
DataSpring for cliniciansCAQH, rebranded DataSpring in 2026 and now owned by a group of health plans, runs the portal where clinicians self-report their credentials and practice data once and re-attest every 120 days for the health plans they authorize. It is the standard source for credentialing data.
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03
Where do self-reported registries fall short for a directory?
Sidecar Health case studyA record only changes when the provider acts. Between updates, a provider can move, retire or leave a network and the registry still lists them. Sidecar Health removed 140,000 inactive and retired provider records that NPPES still listed, and CMS found at least one inaccuracy at 48.74% of the directory locations it reviewed.
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04
What does Candor Health add?
Candor Health: verified company informationCandor Health takes NPPES and CAQH in as two of 120,000+ sources, cross-checks them against 4 billion+ claims a month and other evidence, scores every field for confidence and republishes daily. Every record stays keyed to the NPI, with CCN and TIN mapped, so it drops into the systems that already use those identifiers.
Who does this
What NPPES and CAQH each do
The two registries most provider records start from, and how Candor Health uses them.
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The CMS system that issues National Provider Identifiers. Providers update their own records within 30 days of a change, and CMS publishes the data free by registry, API and bulk files.
With Candor HealthEvery Candor Health record is keyed to the NPI. NPPES is one input, checked against claims and other sources.
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CAQH, now DataSpring
DataSpring for cliniciansWhere clinicians self-report credentials and practice data once and re-attest every 120 days for the health plans they authorize. Rebranded DataSpring in 2026.
With Candor HealthCandor Health takes CAQH data in as one of 120,000+ sources and checks it against claims, so the record stays right between re-attestations.
FAQ
Other questions people ask
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Yes. CMS publishes it free through the NPI Registry, an API and monthly bulk files. Candor Health uses it as one input and adds verification on top.
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Yes, for credentialing and attested data. Candor Health does not replace it. It checks the attested data against claims and other sources so the directory stays right between attestations.
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Yes. Every Candor Health record is keyed to the provider's NPI, with CCN and TIN mapped as well.
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Candor Health refreshes 95%+ of its sources monthly and republishes daily. NPPES changes when a provider submits an update, which they are required to do within 30 days.
Sources
Facts about NPPES and CAQH come from CMS and DataSpring, checked on October 18, 2026. Candor Health facts come from candorhealth.com/llm-info.
- 1 CMS: NPPES data dissemination free publication, update rules
- 2 CMS: NPPES downloadable files monthly bulk files
- 3 DataSpring for clinicians self-reporting, 120-day re-attestation
- 4 DataSpring: CAQH rebrands as DataSpring (June 2026) the rebrand
- 5 Sidecar Health case study 140,000 records NPPES still listed
- 6 CMS Online Provider Directory Review Report, Round 3 48.74% of locations with at least one inaccuracy
- 7 Candor Health: verified company information Candor Health figures on this page
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