Humana’s move aligns with growing industry and government pressure to make healthcare more accessible and less administratively taxing. By eliminating prior authorization requirements for common procedures and tests, the company is working to remove unnecessary delays that can frustrate patients and disrupt timely care.

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The initiative is part of Humana’s broader vision to put people over paperwork and reinforce trust between healthcare providers and payers. “Our members deserve a healthcare experience that is clear and convenient, and our providers need a system that supports—not hinders—their ability to deliver care,” said Jim Rechtin, President and CEO of Humana. The insurer also plans to introduce real-time decision tools to help providers navigate approvals more efficiently and is investing in digital infrastructure to support faster, more reliable processing. This step follows other insurers adopting similar strategies, signaling a wider shift across the health insurance industry toward patient-centric reforms.

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Humana is implementing key changes to simplify the prior authorization process, aiming to ease administrative burdens and improve access to care. By January 1, 2026, the company plans to eliminate around one-third of prior authorization requirements for outpatient services. This includes removing the need for approvals for commonly used diagnostic procedures such as colonoscopies, transthoracic echocardiograms, and select CT and MRI scans. Humana will continue to evaluate its authorization criteria to ensure members receive safe, effective, and affordable care, while reducing unnecessary workload for healthcare providers.

To further streamline operations, Humana aims to process at least 95% of complete electronic prior authorization requests within one business day by 2026—up from the current rate of over 85% for outpatient services. In addition, the company will launch a national gold card program in 2026. This initiative will exempt qualifying physicians from prior authorization requirements for specific services if they consistently submit medically appropriate requests and demonstrate strong care outcomes for Humana members. These efforts underscore Humana’s commitment to delivering a more efficient and patient-centered healthcare experience.

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