Vendor Credentialing Is Broken: Who’s Fixing It and Who’s Overcharging?
Originally inspired by insights published in the Journal of Healthcare Contracting The healthcare supply chain runs on trust. Hospitals rely on vendors to be qualified, compliant, and safe before stepping into critical environments. But today, vendor credentialing is facing a serious problem rising costs with little to no added value. So what’s really happening behind the scenes? And more importantly, who’s actually fixing it? The Rising Cost of Vendor Credentialing (And Why It’s a Problem) Over the past few years, vendor credentialing costs have surged far beyond inflation rates. U.S. inflation (2022–2025): ~9.84% Credentialing price increases: 15%+ in many cases Some companies have: Increased pricing after acquisitions Added hidden fees Failed to innovate while charging more Meanwhile, healthcare systems are already dealing with: Staffing shortages Tight budgets Increasing compliance pressure 👉 The result? Hospitals are paying more for outdated systems that don’t deliver real value...