Major health insurers – including United Healthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Elevance Health and many Blue Cross Blue Shield plans – have pledged to simplify their prior authorization process. Commitments to create a standard electronic prior authorization submission process and ensure continuity of care when patients change health plans codify changes implemented by CMS in rulemaking in the last few years.

The insurers plan to have demonstrated reductions in prior authorizations by January 2026 and by 2027, plan to have at least 80% of prior authorization approvals answered in real-time. These commitments will cover both private insurance and Medicare Advantage markets. At this time, the specific impact this will have on radiation oncology services is unclear, but it is clear that the growing outcry about PA burden has come into focus for these insurance companies. View the full list of health plans that have signed on to these changes.