UnitedHealthcare Cuts Prior Authorization for 30% of Services
UnitedHealthcare will eliminate prior authorization for 30% of services by end of 2026; prior authorizations cover about 2% of its services and 92% are approved within 24 hours.
USA TODAYUnitedHealthcare to remove prior authorization for 30% of services
Washington ExaminerUnitedHealthcare eliminating prior authorization for 30% of services
Epoch TimesUnitedHealthcare Trims Prior Authorization Requirements by 30 Percent Across Services
New York PostUnitedHealth to remove annoying barrier for slew of medical procedures
CBS NewsUnitedHealthcare to cut prior authorization for 30% of services. Here's what to know.
Overview
UnitedHealthcare announced on May 5 it will eliminate prior-authorization requirements for 30% of medical services and said the changes will be implemented by the end of 2026.
The move follows a federal push that included HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz urging insurers to reduce prior authorizations.
UnitedHealthcare CEO Tim Noel said eliminating requirements will make it easier for patients to get care and let doctors spend more time with patients.
Industry officials earlier said similar insurer pledges would apply to roughly 257 million Americans across private insurance, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans.
UnitedHealthcare said it will post the full list of services at UHCProvider.com before the changes take effect and will publicly report prior-authorization data.
Analysis
Center-leaning sources present the policy change in neutral terms, balancing UnitedHealthcare statements with industry data and criticism. They report CEO quotes as source content, cite the AMA's 12-hour estimate and UHC's 92% approval stat, and note AHIP's industry moves—using factual detail rather than loaded language or selective omission.