CMS Selected H1 to Power National Provider Directory
The platform will manage data for over 2 million U.S. healthcare providers to improve network accuracy.
Updated on Sept. 29, 2026 in Healthcare
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The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services has selected data firm H1 to build the National Provider Directory, a resource designed to consolidate information for more than 2 million U.S. healthcare providers. This initiative aims to serve over 100 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries by improving data accuracy.
Why it matters
The directory seeks to reduce administrative friction and mitigate the prevalence of 'ghost networks' by ensuring payers have access to validated, up-to-date provider information. By centralizing this data, the project aims to streamline care coordination and increase transparency for health plans and beneficiaries alike.
The project covers a universe of 2 million active U.S. healthcare providers and over 100 million Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries. H1 currently serves 85% of the top 20 pharmaceutical companies and 9 out of 10 top health plans.
The players
Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services
The federal agency that administers the Medicare program and works in partnership with state governments to administer Medicaid and CHIP.
H1
A healthcare data analytics company that provides provider connectivity and insights to pharmaceutical firms and health plans.
The details
H1 will provide ground truth data sourcing, licensing, and aggregation services to populate the directory. The firm is tasked with normalizing and validating existing provider records, performing quality assessments, and conducting ongoing enrichment and correction activities to address common issues like outdated addresses and fragmented affiliations.
Timeline
September 29, 2026: H1 announced its selection by CMS.
Market Landscape
This development follows federal mandates established by the Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021, which require health plans to maintain accurate provider directories. The move signals an industry-wide shift toward centralized, validated datasets to replace legacy, siloed verification processes.
Operators at health plans and provider groups should prepare for increased scrutiny regarding the accuracy of their internal practitioner data. Expect the standardized directory requirements to eventually necessitate updates to how administrative teams verify provider affiliations and contact details.
The takeaway
Reliable directory data is becoming a mandatory operational standard rather than a competitive advantage. Payers should monitor CMS updates to this directory project as a signal for future compliance standards regarding provider network data quality.
Further reading
For broader insights on industry compliance and infrastructure, visit the Healthcare section.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Manila times.
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Do you believe more accurate provider directories would make it easier for you to find care?
