By MICHAEL CRIMMINS
Glasgow News 1
T.J. Regional Health is a part of UnitedHealthcare’s new Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot program, which is designed to “help local hospitals get paid faster, cut down on paperwork and increase care for families.”
“Reducing administrative complexity in health care is critical to improving access and efficiency,” said Neil Thornbury, chief executive officer of T.J. Regional Health. “This is a meaningful step forward for patients and providers alike. Simplifying prior authorization allows our clinicians and staff to spend less time on paperwork and more time at the bedside. We appreciate UnitedHealthcare for recognizing the impact of this issue and Gov. Beshear for including our hospital in this effort.”
Under the initial pilot program, which was launched in January 2026 and included Idaho, Minnesota, Missouri and Oklahoma, Medicare Advantage payments to hospitals were cut in half — going from fewer than 30 days to fewer than 15 days, according to the UnitedHealthcare website.
“Reliable and quicker payment timelines are essential to keeping doors open and services available,” UnitedHealthcare stated.
In addition to faster payments, the program will exempt rural providers from most of the “medical prior authorization requirements that exist today,” according to UnitedHealthcare.
Kentucky is one of five states included in the April 21 expansion, according to a governor’s office press release.
Comments