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UnitedHealth Group to Eliminate Prior Approvals for Specific Procedures via AI Implementation
UnitedHealth Group announced it will cease requiring prior approvals for echocardiograms, chiropractic care, certain outpatient surgeries, and some outpatient therapy, leveraging AI for the change. The move aims to reduce authorizations by nearly a third later in 2026. This follows industry reforms and comes amid scrutiny after the 2024 killing of former CEO Brian Thompson.
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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.
