Becker's Healthcare January 23, 2026
Settling into 2026, prior authorization continues to be a contentious topic for payers, providers, lawmakers and other leaders. From piloting prior authorization in Medicare to governors pitching reforms, this year is bound to feature significant shifts.
Here are seven prior authorization updates in 2026, so far:
1. Denial rates and prior authorization took center stage at two Congressional hearings Jan. 22 featuring leaders from UnitedHealth Group, CVS Health, Elevance Health, Cigna, and Blue Shield of California’s parent company, Ascendiun. UnitedHealth CEO Stephen Hemsley said the company is working to reduce prior authorizations, building on industrywide commitments from 2025.
2. Ninety-three percent of health plan executives expect AI to add value by automating prior authorizations, according to an analysis of Deloitte...
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