News: UnitedHealthcare eliminates prior authorization for rural healthcare providers

UnitedHealthcare plans to eliminate prior authorization requirements for rural healthcare providers, in an effort to help lower costs and streamline processes, according to a recent press release. In addition, the company will also speed up payments for about half of all rural hospitals and critical access hospitals, as well as develop a new partnership to deliver healthcare services directly within rural communities.

According to the planned changes, UnitedHealthcare will have eliminated prior authorization requirements for around 1,500 rural hospitals, including critical access hospitals, by the fall of 2026. This move intends to reduce administrative burdens and costs for rural health systems.

Additionally, UnitedHealthcare said it has expanded its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot by five states, including Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia, and West Virginia. The pilot originated in four states and sped up Medicare Advantage payments from 30 to 15 days.

Finally, the payer announced it will be launching a “hub-and-spoke” model for rural healthcare that aims to connect regional healthcare experts to community-based clinics. UnitedHealthcare reports its plans to leverage mobile and virtual care, data interoperability, health data analytics, clinical decision support, and home-based care as a part of this model.

The program will start with a focus on maternal healthcare, diabetes, and post-surgical care, with the intention of building a model that can be then applied to other markets.

Editor’s note: To read the initial press release, click here. To read additional coverage from TechTarget, click here.