Major health insurance companies in the United States will now use the same rules for prior authorisation. This process means doctors must ask insurance companies for approval before certain treatments or tests can be paid for. Many people have complained that prior authorisation often slows down patient care.

The new rules will be used for different types of health plans, including commercial insurance, Medicare Advantage, and Medicaid. The changes will cover services that usually need approval, such as orthopaedic surgeries and imaging procedures like CT scans and MRIs.

The new agreement hopes to make the system easier and less confusing for doctors and patients. Some experts believe approval rules will be clearer. However, others think the process is still difficult, and delays in treatment could continue. This change will not end discussions on how much control insurers should have over treatment decisions.