UnitedHealthcare will eliminate most medical prior authorizations for roughly 1,500 rural hospitals and associated practitioners nationwide by fall 2026.
The insurer will speed payments 50%, cutting cycles from under 30 days to under 15 days for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid, commercial plans.
UnitedHealthcare expands its payment acceleration pilot from four states to Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
The move includes hub-and-spoke care models targeting maternity, diabetes and post‑surgical care, with support from National Rural Health Association CEO Alan Morgan.