UnitedHealthcare will cut prior authorization by 30%

Key Points:

• UnitedHealthcare announced it will eliminate prior-approval requirements for 30% of health care services by the end of 2026, aiming to reduce delays and administrative burdens on patients and doctors.
• The insurer plans to remove prior authorizations for certain outpatient operations, diagnostic tests, outpatient therapies, and chiropractic care, noting that prior authorizations currently apply to about 2% of its covered services.
• This move aligns with a broader industry effort, including other major insurers and health officials, to streamline prior authorization processes affecting 257 million Americans across private insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid managed care.
• UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel emphasized the goal of making care access easier and allowing doctors to focus more on patients, while federal officials have indicated potential regulatory action if insurers do not follow through on their commitments.
• Physicians widely criticize prior authorizations for causing care delays, with 93% reporting such issues, whereas insurers defend the practice as necessary to prevent unnecessary medical procedures and control costs.