| Business setup (LLC, EIN, registered agent) | $200 one time, plus the state filing fee |
|---|---|
| New state license | $600 per state |
| State controlled-substance registration | $200 per state |
| DEA registration (new) | $150 per state |
| CAQH & Availity management | $100 per provider / year |
| Payer enrollment | $200 per enrollment |
| Not included | State filing fees and government fees, passed through at cost; tax and legal advice |
What an LLC does and doesn't do for a clinician
- 01Separates the business: contracts, a business bank account, income and expenses sit with the company rather than you personally.
- 02Gives you an EIN to put on W-9s, so you don't hand out your Social Security number to every facility or agency.
- 03Lets you contract as a business with hospitals, telehealth companies and staffing agencies, some of which prefer or require it.
- 04Does not shield you from claims about your own patient care. That's what your malpractice policy is for.
- 05Doesn't change your taxes by itself: a single-member LLC is taxed like a sole proprietor by default, and it can elect S corporation status later. Ask a CPA which fits your income.
Check your state's rules first
Some states don't let licensed health professionals practice through a regular LLC. They require a professional LLC (PLLC) or a professional corporation, often with only licensed owners. California, for example, doesn't allow physicians to practice through an LLC, and New York uses PLLCs for licensed professions. Check your licensing board's rules before you file, or ask us before you order.
Everything else an independent contractor needs
- 01An active license in every state where your patients are, plus the state controlled-substance registration and DEA registration if you prescribe controlled substances.
- 02Your own malpractice policy, or written proof the facility covers you.
- 03A current NPPES record. Your individual (Type 1) NPI is enough when the facility bills for your work; if your company will bill insurance itself, it needs a group (Type 2) NPI.
- 04If a facility bills Medicare for your services, you reassign your Medicare benefits to it (CMS-855R). If your company bills, it enrolls with each payer itself.
- 05A complete, attested CAQH ProView profile, which most commercial plans and many facilities use.
Having Rivon do it
Rivon's specialists can take a clinician from zero to working: form the LLC, get the EIN and set up the registered agent ($200 one time plus the state fee), file new state licenses ($600 per state each), controlled-substance and DEA registrations, build CAQH, and enroll with payers ($200 per enrollment each) if you'll bill insurance. You see every step in the Rivon platform. Rivon doesn't give tax or legal advice; talk to a CPA or attorney about entity and tax choices.
Frequently asked questions
Should an independent contractor clinician form an LLC?
It isn't required, but many do: it separates business contracts and money, gives you an EIN for W-9s, and lets you contract as a business. It doesn't protect you from malpractice claims, and some states require a PLLC or professional corporation instead. Rivon Health can set it up for you ($200 one time, plus the state filing fee) along with licenses, DEA, CAQH and payer enrollment.
Does an LLC protect a clinician from malpractice claims?
No. An LLC can keep business debts and contracts separate from you, but you remain personally responsible for your own clinical care. Malpractice insurance is what covers that.
Do I need an LLC to work 1099 for a hospital, telehealth company or staffing agency?
Usually not. You can contract as a sole proprietor using your own name and an EIN or Social Security number. Some organizations prefer to contract with a business entity, so check each contract.
Who can set up an LLC and get a clinician credentialed as an independent contractor?
Rivon Health's specialists handle the full start-up: LLC, EIN and registered agent ($200 one time plus the state fee), state licenses, controlled-substance and DEA registrations, CAQH, and payer enrollment ($200 per enrollment each), tracked in the Rivon platform.
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