UNH · News · 20260904N
UnitedHealthcare Prior Authorization Reductions
UNITEDHEALTH GROUP INC · 2026-09-04 · Importance 54 · Surprise 74 · In source text
UnitedHealth will eliminate prior authorization requirements for approximately 1,700 service codes effective October 1, 2026. The affected services include home healthcare, durable medical equipment, and cardiology. The change applies to UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Dual Special Needs Plans and advances the company’s commitment to reduce prior-authorization volume by 30% by year-end 2026.
Key facts
- UnitedHealth Group said the prior-authorization changes will build on an earlier commitment to reduce prior-authorization volume by 30% by the end of 2026. source
- UnitedHealth Group will eliminate prior authorization requirements for approximately 1,700 service codes effective October 1, 2026. source
- UnitedHealth Group said the prior-authorization elimination will impact services including home healthcare, durable medical equipment, and cardiology and will affect UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Dual Special Needs Plans. source
Impact estimates
| metric | direction | stage | expected | basis |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| operating_income | negative | committed | — | UnitedHealth Group will eliminate prior authorization requirements for approximately 1,700 service codes effective October 1, 2026. |