UnitedHealthcare drops prior authorization for about 1,700 codes starting Oct. 1
In a memo to providers, UnitedHealthcare listed about 1,700 medical codes that will no longer need prior authorization for services on or after October 1, 2026. The insurer says this is roughly 30% of its preapproval requirements. Healthcare Dive reported that the cuts include more than 800 codes for commercial plans, about 940 for ACA plans, about 120 for Medicare Advantage and dual special needs plans, and 1,400 for Oxford plans, with Medicaid varying by state. The affected services include oncology, cardiology, orthopedics, genetic and lab testing, physical, occupational and speech therapy, chiropractic care, home health and durable medical equipment.
Why it's notable: UnitedHealthcare covers more than 48 million people, so practices should re-check their prior authorization workflows and front-desk rules for these services before October 1. Only about 120 of the codes apply to Medicare Advantage, so the relief is uneven across plan types.