Cigna Group Standardizes Prior Authorization Process To Improve Care Access

The move is designed to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery by reducing administrative complexity and accelerating patient access to necessary treatments.

The Cigna Group has announced its participation in a collaborative industry-wide initiative with leading health plans to standardize electronic prior authorization submission requirements for commonly reviewed medical services.

The move is designed to improve efficiency in healthcare delivery by reducing administrative complexity and accelerating patient access to necessary treatments.

According to the company, the standardized approach is expected to be applied to medical services representing more than 70% of total prior authorization volume by the end of 2026. Additional services will be included in phases as part of a rolling implementation plan.

The initiative focuses on simplifying and aligning submission processes, enabling providers and their teams to spend less time on paperwork and more time on patient care. It also supports the expansion of real-time electronic approvals, which are increasingly being adopted across the healthcare system to reduce delays in treatment authorization.

“We want patients to get the care they need when they need it, and we want doctors and their teams to be able to focus on patients – not paperwork,” said Dr. Amy Flaster, Chief Medical Officer at The Cigna Group. She added that the company is working to make prior authorization “clearer and more consistent” while continuing efforts to simplify the overall healthcare experience.

The company noted that this effort builds on its earlier progress, including a reported 15% reduction in medical prior authorization volume. This reduction has helped ease administrative pressure on providers while improving access pathways for patients.

The initiative also aligns with broader voluntary commitments made by the health insurance industry in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). These commitments aim to streamline prior authorization workflows and increase transparency across the system.

The Cigna Group stated that it will continue to expand its digital and operational improvements as part of its long-term focus on simplifying healthcare navigation for patients and providers.

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