April 15, 2026
On April 7, The Cigna Group joined other health plans in announcing an update on the industry’s progress implementing the voluntary prior authorization commitments made in partnership with the Department of Health and Human Services and CMS last year.
Since June 2025, participating health plans have eliminated 11% of prior authorizations across a range of medical services, representing 6.5 million fewer prior authorizations for patients. This reduction is helping to ease administrative burdens and speed up access to evidence-based care. Health plans also affirmed improvements that make it easier for members who switch insurance to maintain their prior authorization approvals, known as continuity of care, and enhanced communications on prior authorization determinations.
AHIP and BCBSA are jointly briefing key policymakers and stakeholders on progress across the core commitment areas. Additional components of the commitments take effect in 2027, and taken together, these collective improvements will lead to a faster, more standardized and simplified experience, benefiting patients and providers.
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