Cigna Group has announced the removal of pre-authorization requirements for 25% of medical services, streamlining insurance coverage. This move follows growing concerns over administrative burdens and restrictive paperwork. Chief Medical Officer Scott Josephs emphasized the need to reduce these encumbrances. UnitedHealth Group has also previously stated its plan to reduce pre-authorization demands by 20% for specific non-urgent medical procedures.
Cigna Group, a prominent health insurer, announced on Thursday its decision to do away with the necessity for prior authorization or bureaucratic paperwork to attain insurance coverage approval for a quarter of all medical services.
The stringent pre-authorization prerequisites for certain medical procedures have faced criticism from medical practitioners, asserting that they impose restrictions and contribute to an excessive administrative workload.
“Clinicians and health plans share the consensus that there’s room for improvement in alleviating the administrative burden on healthcare providers,” stated Scott Josephs, Chief Medical Officer of Cigna Healthcare.
Pre-authorization, also known as pre-certification, mandates that medical service providers seek coverage approval for specific non-emergency procedures.
In a similar vein, UnitedHealth Group (UNH.N) revealed earlier this year its intentions to decrease the application of pre-authorization requirements by 20% for certain non-urgent surgeries and procedures.
