-- UnitedHealth Group (UNH) said Monday it launched national rural healthcare expansion initiatives to help lower costs, simplify paperwork, alleviate staffing shortage, and improve access to quality care.
The initiatives are expected to help independent rural hospitals improve cash flow and financial stability, the company said.
The initiatives will speed payments by up to 50% for around 1,500 rural and critical access hospitals and exempt rural providers from most medical prior authorization requirements, according to the company.
UnitedHealth, which initiated its Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot in four states in January, said the pilot will immediately expand to Alabama, Arkansas, Kentucky, Virginia and West Virginia.
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