UnitedHealthcare (UHC) is eliminating prior authorization requirements for 30% of health care services and has committed to removing an additional 30% of remaining requirements by the end of 2026. This is the most comprehensive update in the efforts to reform prior authorization and reduce unnecessary administrative burden for care providers and patients.
 
The announcement is the latest in a series of efforts to simplify the experience for the members, including:

1. Championing an industry wide effort to standardize electronic prior authorization submission requirements with the expectation that more than 70% of prior authorization volume be part of the new process by the end of the year.
2. Eliminating most medical prior authorization requirements and speeding up payments by up to 50% for approximately 1,500 rural hospitals and all critical access hospitals, helping stabilize access to health care in underserved communities.
3. Publicly reporting prior authorization metrics and additional context to help care providers, members and the public better understand how prior authorization is used. 

Together, these efforts reflect the company’s continued focus on improving the health care experience, reducing friction in care delivery, improving the provider experience, and helping patients get the care they need when they need it.