UnitedHealth Cuts Prior-Auths, Speeds Payments for Rural Hospitals

UnitedHealth Group Incorporated (NYSE:UNH) recently released its Q2 financials, showcasing a revenue of $112 billion. The company's UnitedHealthcare segment generated $86 billion in revenue, with a segment profit of $3.9 billion and a margin of 4.5%. On the other hand, the company's total operating earnings were $8 billion, while operating cash flow reached $11.1 billion.

In an effort to improve patient care and streamline operations, UnitedHealth plans to cut prior-authorizations by approximately 30% by year-end. The company will also speed up payments for around 1,400 rural hospitals by as much as 50%, starting from October 1st.