UnitedHealthcare to cut prior authorization for 30% of services. Here's what to know.

Key Points:

• UnitedHealthcare announced it will eliminate prior authorization requirements for 30% of medical services that previously needed insurer approval, aiming to reduce administrative delays and improve patient access to care.
• Prior authorizations, which require providers to get insurer approval before delivering certain treatments, have been criticized for consuming significant physician time and delaying patient care; UnitedHealthcare noted that only 2% of its medical services currently require prior authorization, with 92% approved within 24 hours.
• The services no longer requiring prior authorization include select outpatient surgeries, some diagnostic tests like echocardiograms, certain outpatient therapies, and some chiropractic care, with a full list to be posted on UHCProvider.com before the changes take effect by the end of 2026.
• This policy shift aligns with broader industry trends, as other major insurers such as Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Humana, and Kaiser Permanente are also working to streamline or reduce prior authorization processes following pressure from stakeholders.
• UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel emphasized that prior authorization remains an important safeguard but should be used only when it genuinely protects patients and enhances care, aiming to allow doctors more time with patients and quicker treatment access.