UnitedHealthcare to drop prior authorization requirements for range of conditions from Oct. 1

UnitedHealth's UNH.N insurance unit said on Tuesday that a broad range of conditions will no longer need prior approval, effective October 1, as it aims to eliminate prior authorization for 30% of healthcare services by the end of this year.

Here are the details:

• The reduction spans a broad mix of services across multiple clinical specialties, including cardiology, genetic and laboratory testing, chiropractic care, physical, occupational and speech therapy, orthopedic and musculoskeletal procedures, among others.
• The prior authorization requirements are being eliminated across its commercial plans, Medicare Advantage for older adults and individual insurance under the Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare, and some other types of plans.
• Health insurers have been taking measures to simplify their requirements for prior authorization on medicines and medical services after complaints from patients and doctors over excessive paperwork that can delay or even deny needed care.
• The actions are designed to reduce unnecessary paperwork, make information easier to understand and allow patients and care providers more time to focus on care, UnitedHealthcare said.
• The company is also reducing administrative requirements for eligible rural hospitals and affiliated providers through a rural prior authorization waiver program scheduled to begin on November 1.
• UnitedHealthcare is speeding payments by up to 50% for about 1,400 rural hospitals and Critical Access Hospitals in the third quarter.