Here are four prior authorization updates Becker's has reported on since Aug. 3:
1. On Sept. 1, UnitedHealthcare is set to begin a two-phased approach to eliminate prior authorization requirements for several procedure codes, including four spine-related codes, three gastroenterology-related codes and 12 cardiology-related codes. The code removals will account for almost 20 percent of its overall prior authorization volume.
2. In 2022, 39 percent of physicians spent one to nine hours on prior authorizations weekly, according to Medical Economics' "94th Physician Report."
3. The administrative costs of healthcare, including prior authorizations, are estimated to make up 20 to 34 percent of healthcare expenditures, according to an Aug. 4 report from the American Enterprise Institute, a public policy think tank.
4. The American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the Georgia Society of Ophthalmology are praising insurer Humana for rolling back a prior authorization requirement for cataract surgery for Medicare Advantage beneficiaries in Georgia.