UnitedHealth Group to Eliminate Prior Approvals for Specific Procedures via AI Implementation

UnitedHealth Group announced on Tuesday that it plans to stop requiring doctors to get approvals for echocardiograms, chiropractic care, certain outpatient surgeries, and some outpatient therapy. The company will use AI to implement this cessation of prior approvals for the specified procedures. UnitedHealth Group also plans to slash required authorizations by nearly a third later in 2026.

Noel told the Wall Street Journal that the move is an early signal of how AI can help change healthcare’s complex financial system. UnitedHealthcare will use data analysis to flag certain healthcare providers with spiking patterns of questionable use, according to Noel. The new AI-backed technology will not be used to deny insurance claims.

Prior authorizations are required for 2% of UnitedHealthcare's medical services, and around 92% of UnitedHealthcare authorizations are approved in less than 24 hours on average. UnitedHealthcare is looking to standardize authorization requirements among its Medicare, Medicaid, and employer plans.

The company previously launched a 'gold card' program lifting approval requirements on certain healthcare provider groups.

About 68% of health insurers were using, planning to use, or considering using AI to review pre-authorizations for approval, according to a survey last year by the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Insurers have slashed about 11% of pre-authorizations since launching a joint reform effort in 2025, according to health industry organizations.

Com reported these developments in the context of broader industry changes. The announcement follows the 2024 killing of former UnitedHealthcare CEO Brian Thompson. Luigi Mangione is accused of murdering Brian Thompson.

Mangione is set to go on trial in fall 2026. com reported that the authorization process has long been despised by both doctors and patients, who blame the lengthy paperwork for slowing down necessary treatment. Insurance companies have argued that approvals are necessary to prevent expensive, potentially unnecessary procedures.