U.S. insurers are speeding up and reducing prior authorizations to improve patient care

From CNBC: 2025-06-23 15:59:00

Major U.S. insurers have agreed to speed up and reduce prior authorizations, a process criticized for causing care delays and physician burnout. Insurers such as CVS Health, UnitedHealthcare, and Cigna are committing to connect patients to care more quickly and reduce administrative burdens on providers, benefiting 257 million Americans. The changes include implementing a common standard for submitting electronic prior authorization requests by 2027 and reducing the types of claims subject to prior authorization requests by 2026.

Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator Mehmet Oz thanked insurance companies for their efforts to address timely access to care, savings for the health-care system, and increasing transparency into the prior authorization process. Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. noted that the proposed changes are unprecedented in scale, with clear deliverables and deadlines, expecting more insurers to commit to the changes.

The move to streamline prior authorizations comes after public backlash following the murder of UnitedHealthcare’s top executive, Brian Thompson. Several companies have already taken steps to simplify their prior authorization processes. UnitedHealthcare expands on its efforts by reducing services requiring prior authorization and implementing the Gold Card program, which recognizes and rewards providers who adhere to evidence-based care guidelines.



Read more at CNBC: U.S. insurers to change approval process