UnitedHealthcare Eliminates Most Prior Authorizations for Rural Providers

UnitedHealthcare is removing prior authorization requirements for most services delivered by providers in rural areas. This is part of the payer's rural health financial stability initiative. The change is effective immediately for newly received requests and applies to both Medicare Advantage and commercial plans. Rural clinics should verify their eligibility for this policy via their UHC portal or representative. For eligible services, submit claims without waiting for auth. This directly impacts scheduling and revenue cycle speed for affected providers.