Transforming Healthcare: Leading Health Plans Acquire CAQH for Data Innovation

In a significant move for the healthcare industry, CAQH is now owned by a consortium of twelve prominent health plans. This strategic change aims to transform how healthcare data is managed and shared, enhancing the efficiency and accuracy of services that underpin the modern healthcare system. By deepening partnerships and accelerating product development, CAQH plans to revolutionize healthcare data solutions to better meet the needs of providers, health plans, and ultimately, patients.

For over 25 years, CAQH has been an invaluable resource in healthcare data management, acting as the central hub where providers and health plans converge to ensure the quality and reliability of essential information. With a robust repository of over 4.8 million provider records and data covering approximately 75% of insured lives in the United States, CAQH stands as the largest and most comprehensive healthcare data foundation in the country.

This change in ownership was announced on January 6, 2026, and it signals an exciting new chapter in CAQH's evolution. As the healthcare landscape becomes increasingly complex and expensive, CAQH is poised to invest more heavily in innovative technologies and partnerships that will streamline care delivery. "Reliable data is crucial for every transaction and patient interaction in the healthcare sector," stated Sarah Ahmad, CEO of CAQH. "This new structure gives us the freedom to reimagine our data systems, ensuring they function more effectively for all stakeholders involved."

The CAQH Board of Directors comprises leaders from each of the twelve shareholder companies, establishing a collaborative governance structure centered on a common goal: to harness the power of interconnected data to enhance the healthcare experience for everyone involved. Notable figures on the board include Tim Kaja from UnitedHealth Group, Susan Smith of Centene Corporation, and representatives from Aetna, Elevance Health, and The Cigna Group.

Tim Kaja, the chair of the board, highlighted CAQH's founding principles, stating, "This new ownership structure reflects a continuing commitment to reducing administrative costs within the healthcare system. Our history of facing challenging industry problems head-on continues to define our mission today." This sentiment captures the board's collective confidence in CAQH's capacity to innovate and improve the healthcare experience.

As the newly acquired entity works to refine its product offerings, CAQH is set to enhance interoperability—making it easier for providers and health plans to share and access trusted data. The organization is focused on addressing common pain points throughout the industry and creating solutions that empower healthcare practitioners.

Looking ahead, CAQH is excited to leverage its new position to increase product capabilities and create a user-friendly interface that healthcare professionals can rely on. The ultimate aim is to enable better outcomes for patients by ensuring that health plans and providers can collaborate more seamlessly than ever before.

About CAQH: CAQH serves as the critical data connector at the heart of the healthcare industry. Its mission, over the past quarter-century, has been to streamline essential information flows across the healthcare ecosystem. The acquisition by leading health plans stands to reinforce that mission, ensuring more robust and reliable healthcare data management for years to come. To learn more about CAQH and its initiatives, visit CAQH.org.