Medicaid Monitor
Policy Intelligence
Medicaid Monitor
Policy Intelligence
Updated 12:08 PM MT
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Industry·September 11, 2026

UnitedHealth Group Drops Prior Authorization for 1,700 Services, Faces Maryland Lawsuit

UnitedHealth Group has announced plans to eliminate prior authorization requirements for 1,700 services, a significant operational change affecting providers and patients. The company also faces a lawsuit from Maryland's attorney general, though specific allegations were not detailed in the brief. Additional updates include the appointment of Ujjwal Ratan as chief AI officer at Optum Insight. These developments span regulatory compliance, clinical operations, and corporate leadership at the nation's largest health insurer.

Why it matters

Prior authorization changes at UnitedHealth affect Medicaid managed care operations in states where UnitedHealth's plans serve beneficiaries, potentially reducing administrative burden for providers and accelerating access to care.

Managed Care

Read the full article at beckershospitalreview.com

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