UnitedHealthcare is expanding rural healthcare initiatives to cover the entire U.S., according to an April 20 news release shared with Becker’s.
These efforts include accelerating payments by up to 50% for roughly 1,500 hospitals and all critical access hospitals, reducing many prior authorization requirements for rural providers and building partnerships for essential service delivery.
In January, UnitedHealthcare launched its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot in four states: Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri. The pilot brought Medicare Advantage payments to hospitals in fewer than 15 days on average instead of 30 days or fewer. The pilot has grown to facilities in Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia, and is scheduled to expand to the rest of the U.S. by fall. The national rollout will also encompass Medicaid and fully insured commercial plans.
Prior authorization exemptions will apply to those 1,500 hospitals, including critical access hospitals and associated rural practitioners.
Hub-and-spoke rural care models aim to improve continuity of care in these communities. Partnerships with health systems could feature resources for virtual care, interoperability and data analytics, clinical decision support, and home-based care. These partnerships will begin by focusing on maternity care, diabetes and post-surgical care.
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