US health insurers advance measures to standardize prior authorization requirements

UnitedHealth and CVS Health have standardized data and submission requirements for over half of their prior authorizations to reduce delays and paperwork. UnitedHealthcare aims for 70% standardization across commercial, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid plans by year-end, while CVS's Aetna has standardized 88%. The process covers common services like orthopedic surgeries and imaging. These changes improve predictability and reduce rework without altering coverage rules.