UnitedHealthcare announced it will eliminate prior authorization requirements for approximately 30% of healthcare services, marking a significant policy shift for the nation's largest health insurer.

The changes will remove approval requirements for select outpatient surgeries and other medical procedures. Prior authorization typically requires healthcare providers to obtain insurance company approval before performing certain treatments or prescribing medications.

The policy adjustment affects a substantial portion of services that previously required pre-approval from the insurer. UnitedHealthcare has not specified which exact procedures will no longer require authorization or provided a timeline for implementation.

Prior authorization has been a point of contention in healthcare, with medical providers arguing the process can delay patient care while insurers maintain it helps control costs and ensures appropriate treatment protocols.