Major US health insurers, including UnitedHealthcare and Aetna, announced plans to reform their prior authorization processes. These reforms aim to reduce delays and complications caused by the practice, which requires pre-approval for medical care. Changes include standardizing electronic authorization, reducing the scope of claims needing approval, and expanding real-time responses. This follows criticism of prior authorization for causing care delays and increasing administrative costs, contributing to patient anxiety and potentially harming health outcomes. The insurers aim to implement these changes by the end of next year, affecting various coverage plans.

Prepared by Olivia Bennett and reviewed by editorial team.