Industry
UnitedHealth Group Eliminates Prior Authorization for 1,700 Service Codes Effective October 1
UnitedHealth Group will eliminate prior authorization requirements for approximately 1,700 service codes, including home healthcare services, effective October 1, 2026. The change builds on the company's May 2026 commitment to reduce prior authorization volume by 30% by year-end. The elimination affects services across UnitedHealth's commercial and Medicare Advantage lines. Providers delivering these services will no longer need to obtain advance approval from UnitedHealth plans, potentially reducing administrative burden and accelerating care delivery for affected members.
Why it mattersMedicaid managed care organizations may face competitive pressure to adopt similar prior authorization reductions as commercial and Medicare Advantage payers streamline administrative requirements for home health and other services.
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