By Shelley DeGroff, Founder of PPO Advisors
Why This Blog Matters
There are many credentialing platforms that dental networks utilize—CAQH, DentalXChange, and now most recently, Skygen. The challenge? There’s no unified system, and each network chooses its own path. That leaves practices constantly guessing which portal to use, and when.
This blog isn’t about endorsing or criticizing Skygen. It’s about helping you understand:
👉 Which networks now require it
👉 What you need to do to stay compliant
👉 How PPO Advisors can take the credentialing load off your team
The big takeaway: MetLife and UnitedHealthcare Dental have transitioned to Skygen. If you’re in-network with either (or plan to be), this change affects your workflow—and we’re here to help guide you through it.
Who’s Now Requiring Skygen?
Three major networks have moved to credentialing through the Skygen Dental Hub:
👉 MetLife Dental – As of April 2025, credentialing for MetLife is managed via Skygen.
👉 UnitedHealthcare Dental – Began requiring Skygen for credentialing and recredentialing in Q2 2025.
👉 Delta Dental (select plans) – Currently running a pilot through Skygen for Medicare Advantage plans like UCLA Health.
If you’re participating with any of these networks, you must use the Skygen platform for both initial credentialing and ongoing recredentialing.
This is a critical part of maintaining your PPO participation—and if you’re not sure how it fits into your broader PPO negotiation strategy, that’s where we come in.
Benefits of the Skygen Platform
Skygen was designed to streamline the credentialing process for both networks and providers. Some of its key features include:
👉 A digital dashboard with real-time status updates
👉 Smart forms to reduce common errors
👉 Delegation tools that let your admin team—or PPO Advisors—handle credentialing
👉 Direct digital submissions (no more faxing or mailing)
This can be a helpful tool in maintaining compliance—but it doesn’t cover everything, especially when it comes to negotiating dental PPO fees or understanding how this impacts your fee schedule alignment.
A Key Drawback: No Contract Stacking at Submission
Despite the efficiencies, Skygen has one significant limitation: you cannot submit contract stacking preferences or opt-outs at the time of application.
What this means for your practice:
👉 Networks determine how your contracts are stacked (e.g., MetLife vs. Connection Dental)
👉 You must wait until after your effective date to request stacking changes
👉 Making those changes later requires time, tracking, and often, extra effort
For practices involved in PPO negotiations or using umbrella networks, this can directly impact reimbursement rates and network positioning.
How Your Practice Can Navigate Skygen
You have two choices:
Option 1: Handle It In-House
Create a Dental Hub account, assign credentialing roles to team members, and manage applications internally.
Option 2: Delegate to PPO Advisors
Once your account is created, delegate credentialing access to PPO Advisors, your experienced PPO management company. We will:
👉 Complete and manage your entire application
👉 Notify your team when provider attestation is needed
👉 Track credentialing timelines, effective dates, and required follow-ups
Our team ensures everything is done correctly and efficiently—saving you time, confusion, and potential delays.
The PPO Advisors Workflow
Here’s what it looks like when you delegate credentialing to our team:
1. Your provider creates a Skygen Dental Hub account
2. Delegates access to PPO Advisors
3. We complete and manage the credentialing process
4. You’re notified when it’s time to attest
5. Post-submission, we monitor stacking, effective dates, and any necessary contract adjustments
It’s a simple, proven system backed by our extensive experience in PPO negotiation solutions and negotiating fee schedules with insurance companies.
Final Thoughts
Credentialing platforms come and go—but your ability to stay ahead shouldn’t.
Skygen may be the new player, but networks like MetLife, UHC, and Delta Dental are already making it mandatory. As changes like these evolve, so does the complexity of maintaining PPO participation while protecting your bottom line.
At PPO Advisors, we don’t endorse platforms—we deliver PPO solutions that work for your practice. Whether you need help understanding stacking, credentialing, or aligning your contracts with your fee goals, we’re here to help you turn PPO into profit.
Let’s make credentialing one less thing your team has to stress over.