Insurers to Cut Prior Authorization Delays, Aim for Real-Time Processing by 2027

Major U.S. health insurers, including CVS Health, UnitedHealthcare, Cigna, Humana, Elevance Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield, announced Monday they will voluntarily streamline the prior authorization process. This step aims to reduce delays in care and lessen the administrative burden on healthcare providers. The initiative will impact 257 million Americans across commercial, Medicare, and Medicaid plans. Key goals include adopting electronic submission standards by 2027 and ensuring at least 80% of electronic requests with all clinical documents are processed in real time. Insurers also plan to reduce the number of services requiring prior approval by 2026, addressing longstanding criticism from doctors and patients about delays and inefficiencies.