As to your first question, it is very hard to figure out which specialties are best in your region. There are several reasons for this: Many companies are unwilling to inform you what they are looking for because people may inflate their abilities to get credentialed. For other companies, it is a matter of reaching the network manager. Since they decide which providers will be credentialed, they will know the gaps in their network.

Be aware though. They do not have to give that information out. However, contacting them can be very difficult for individual providers. This is one of the advantages of hiring a credentialing company like Thriveworks: We either know the person to talk to, or are very good at finding them.

The best way to determine the need in your area is to think like the insurance company: Look at what other providers in your area offer, as well as the needs of the population. If you do this objectively and can come up with solid numbers, then there is a chance even a closed insurance panel will accept you upon appeal.

Hope this helps! -Ben Baynton