UnitedHealth Group is changing its business to help healthcare work better.
Supporting providers through prior authorization reform
UnitedHealthcare is simplifying prior authorization so providers can spend less time on administrative steps and people can get care more easily.
May 2026
UnitedHealthcare committed to eliminating 30% of its current prior authorization volume by the end of 2026.
This includes select outpatient surgeries, certain diagnostic tests such as echocardiograms, and some outpatient therapies and chiropractic care.
April 2026
UnitedHealthcare championed an industrywide effort to standardize submission requirements for electronic prior authorization, which account for more than half of prior authorization volume.
More than 70% of UnitedHealthcare prior authorizations are expected to be part of the new standardized submission process by the end of 2026.
April 2026
UnitedHealthcare publicly reported prior authorization metrics and launched a new website with claims data across plan types.
This helps care providers and members better understand how prior authorization is used and gives them more visibility into how services are used.
March 2025
UnitedHealthcare removed prior authorization requirements for home health services.
This represented nearly 10% of UnitedHealthcare’s total prior authorization volume.
October 2024
UnitedHealthcare introduced a first-of-its-kind national Gold Card program designed to reduce prior authorizations for provider groups that consistently adhere to evidence-based care guidelines.
The Gold Card program has driven a 40% increase in the number of eligible providers.
Driving access and affordability through drug pricing and pharmacy payment reforms
Optum Rx is making pharmacy care more transparent and predictable, with changes designed to lower costs and make the system easier for clients and consumers to understand.
May 2026
Optum Rx launched a transparent, fee-based pharmacy care model available to every Optum Rx PBM customer.
The model is designed to make pharmacy care more predictable by decoupling PBM pricing from drug list prices and prescription volume. It aligns incentives with patients and plan sponsors and gives consumers digital tools to compare medication costs upfront.
January 2026
Optum Rx reduced reauthorizations for an additional 40 drugs, expanding on its June and March 2025 announcements.
Since the beginning of 2025, Optum Rx has eliminated more than 25% of drug reauthorizations. This represents 10% of pharmacy prior authorizations for a list of 270 chronic condition medications.
September 2025
Optum Rx increased reimbursement minimums for brand drugs for approximately 2,300 independent pharmacies.
This expanded the March 2025 reimbursement initiative to additional independent pharmacies, helping ensure reimbursement more closely reflects the cost of dispensing brand medications while supporting the long-term sustainability of community pharmacies
March 2025
Optum Rx introduced pharmacy payment terms designed to better reflect the actual costs pharmacies incur to deliver care.
Through partnerships with Pharmacy Services Administration Organizations, 100% of community and independent pharmacies in the Optum Rx network have transitioned to these arrangements.
January 2025
Optum Rx committed to passing through 100% of manufacturer drug rebate discounts to clients by January 1, 2028.
The commitment is designed to give clients more direct access to negotiated savings and lays the foundation for a more transparent pharmacy care model.
Strengthening governance, oversight and transparency
UnitedHealth Group is changing how it leads, manages and reports on the business to strengthen accountability, improve performance and build greater transparency.
May 2026
UnitedHealth Group announced the results of independent reviews of selected business policies, practices and performance measures.
Independent assessors determined UnitedHealth Group’s policies and practices for for risk assessment coding, managed care practices and pharmacy services are robust and sound. They identified areas for improvement, including recommendations to strengthen the protocols that govern the company’s work.
January 2026
UnitedHealth Group formed a new Public Responsibility Committee of its Board of Directors.
The committee oversees financial, regulatory and reputational matters that may affect the company’s operations and mission. This builds on the Board Governance Committee’s ongoing work to ensure shareholders are represented by qualified, independent directors. Currently, nine of the company’s 10 directors are independent, and all five Board committees are chaired by independent directors.
Ongoing enterprise and management progress
UnitedHealth Group continues to refocus its portfolio to support its U.S. business and core health care priorities.
This includes the sale of UK assets and the expected closing of the sale of its final South American businesses in the third quarter of 2026. Separately, the company is strengthening operations at Optum, with new leaders focused on improving performance consistency across its integrated value-based care offering.
UnitedHealth Group has made significant management changes to strengthen execution, accountability and mission alignment.
Nearly half of the company’s top 100 leaders stepped into new or expanded roles, reflecting a broader effort to re-energize the company’s culture and reinforce its commitment to mission.
Modernizing America’s health system through innovation and technology
Technology should make health care easier, not more complicated. UnitedHealth Group is using AI, digital tools and partnerships to help people and care teams navigate health care with less friction.
April 2026
UnitedHealth Group announced that it remains on track to invest nearly $1.5 billion in AI-related initiatives in 2026.
These capabilities are already improving experiences for consumers and care providers, increasing productivity and reducing administrative burden.
March 2026
UnitedHealthcare introduced Avery, a generative AI companion designed to help members navigate coverage, benefits and care.
Avery provides personalized, real time support, helps coordinate care and empowers customer advocates.
October 2025
Optum announced Optum Real, an AI-enabled claims and reimbursement platform, and expanded its collaboration with Microsoft to add new AI-powered capabilities.
Optum Real is designed to reduce administrative errors and help prevent claims denials by allowing providers to check coverage in real time, rather than weeks after a patient visit.
July 2025
UnitedHealth Group joined other technology and health care companies at the White House’s “Make Tech Great Again” summit.
United Health Group committed to supporting a new, digital health system designed around patients that aims to improve outcomes, reduce provider burden and drive value.
Strengthening rural care and social impact, expanding benefits and improving affordability
Where people live should not determine how easily they can get care. UnitedHealth Group is working to improve access, affordability and health outcomes for people, providers and communities across the country.
April 2026
UnitedHealthcare announced support for 1,500 rural hospitals and their associated rural practitioners nationwide, including all Critical Access Hospitals.
The effort is designed to improve financial stability for rural hospitals by reducing reimbursement timelines by nearly 50% to approximately two weeks on average, easing administrative strain on care teams and helping patients in rural communities access high-quality care.
April 2026
UnitedHealth Group announced a renewed focus and $1 billion commitment to the United Health Foundation.
This includes an expanded commitment to improving rural health care, expanding the health care workforce, strengthening maternal and children’s health, addressing behavioral health challenges and more.
April 2026
UnitedHealthcare announced partnerships with leading health systems to support hub-and-spoke care models that connect regional clinical expertise with community-based access points.
These models may include mobile and virtual care, data interoperability and analytics, clinical decision support and home-based care to help drive better outcomes in rural communities.
March 2026
UnitedHealthcare announced the nationwide expansion of its doula offering to employer-sponsored plans.
The offering supports families throughout pregnancy, birth and the postpartum period. By January 2027, more than 7 million members could have access to it.
January 2026
UnitedHealthcare pledged to return any profits from its individual ACA offerings in 2026.
This is a voluntary commitment intended to improve affordability for people enrolled in UnitedHealthcare’s individual ACA plans.