UnitedHealthcare has launched a six-month pilot program aimed at cutting Medicare Advantage payment processing times in half for independent rural hospitals in four states.
The Rural Payment Acceleration Pilot will reduce average MA payment timelines from less than 30 days to less than 15 days for participating hospitals in Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri, according to a Jan. 14 news release. The insurer said the initiative is designed to provide immediate cash flow relief to rural facilities facing financial pressures.
UnitedHealthcare said it selected participating hospitals based on criteria intended to maximize impact and inform future rural-focused strategies. The company will handle administration and coordinate directly with hospitals on implementation, though it did not specify how many facilities are included in the pilot.
UnitedHealthcare plans to share progress updates with providers, policymakers and community stakeholders throughout the pilot. Insights from the program will guide decisions about expanding accelerated payment timelines to additional hospitals and markets.
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