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UnitedHealthcare speeds up payments, slashes prior authorization for rural hospitals

A photo of the lawn sign at the UnitedHealthcare Building
Photo: David Berding/Getty Images for People’s Action Institute

The health insurance giant is using its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot program to support more than 1,500 rural hospitals.

UnitedHealthcare has announced an initiative to speed up payments and ease administrative burdens for rural hospitals struggling with chronic financial and staffing pressures.

To that end, the insurer said it will expand its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot program – launched in January across Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota, and Missouri – nationally.

According to

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