UnitedHealthcare is paring down prior authorizations for 30% of applicable services, according to a May 5 news release.
The cuts will take place by the end of 2026, with the insurer rolling back requirements for some outpatient surgeries, diagnostic tests like echocardiograms, outpatient therapies and chiropractic care.
The company said prior authorizations are currently only needed for 2% of medical services. On average, over 90% of requests are approved, and those approvals took place within 24 hours.
At the Becker’s 16th Annual Meeting in Chicago, UnitedHealthcare’s Employer and Individual segment CEO Dan Kueter said the company previously reduced commercial prior authorization requirements by 20% and was aiming for an additional 30% reduction.
In April, the insurer also shared plans to scale back prior authorization requirements for rural providers. That same month, the company joined roughly 50 health plans in agreeing to standardize electronic prior authorizations across most services. The move built upon an earlier commitment to ease up on prior authorization requirements overall.
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