Payer & Operations
Health insurers move to standardize prior authorization
By Intent.Health Team | April 24, 2026
What’s happening
Major U.S. insurers, including UnitedHealth Group and CVS Health, are introducing standardized processes for prior authorization requests. On April 24, 2026, UnitedHealthcare announced that over 50% of its volume is now standardized, while Aetna (CVS) has reached 88% standardization.
The move aims to simplify approvals for treatments and reduce administrative delays for providers and patients.
What’s changing / Business impact
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Standardization reduces: paperwork and approval delays.
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Insurers are responding to pressure to simplify access to care.
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Could improve: provider efficiency and patient experience.
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Signals a shift toward interoperability in payer systems.
Why this matters
Prior authorization has been one of the biggest friction points in U.S. healthcare delivery.
This shows:
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Access to care is increasingly shaped by administrative processes, not just clinical decisions.
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Payers are being pushed toward system-wide standardization.
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Operational inefficiencies are becoming a core battleground in healthcare.