Insurer trims pre-approval hurdles for 30% of care

UnitedHealthcare will drop prior authorization for about 30% of services by the end of 2026, including certain outpatient procedures, diagnostic tests (like echocardiograms), outpatient therapies, and chiropractic care, affecting about 257 million Americans. The company says reviews currently occur for roughly 2% of services and 92% are approved in under a day, aiming to speed care and reduce bureaucratic delays. This move follows a broader industry pledge to streamline prior authorizations, with doctors and patients having long complained about delays while insurers argue the reviews curb unnecessary care.