April 2, 2023 – The largest health insurer in the United States says it will no longer require lengthy paperwork known as prior authorization for many types of health care starting later this year.
UnitedHealthcare made the announcement last week that it would trim prior authorizations by 20% amid growing calls from medical professionals, patients, and politicians that the process causes harmful treatment delays or denials.
“We’re not deaf to the complaints out there,” Philip Kaufman, chief growth officer at UnitedHealthcare, told The Wall Street Journal. “We’ve taken a hard look at ourselves and this process.”