UnitedHealthcare Eliminates Two-Thirds of Pediatric Prior Authorization Requirements by Year-End

UnitedHealthcare announced it will remove prior authorization requirements for the majority of pediatric services for members under age 18 by the end of the year, eliminating two-thirds of current authorization requirements. The change affects commercial and Medicare Advantage plans with pediatric enrollment. The policy takes effect by December 31, 2024. This reflects growing pressure on health plans to reduce administrative burden and aligns with broader industry and regulatory momentum toward prior authorization reform, potentially setting a benchmark other Medicaid MCOs may need to match.

Managed Care · CHIP