UnitedHealthcare Prior Authorization Update: Important Change for Chiropractic Services Effective October 1
September 2026
The Utah Chiropractic Physicians Association (UCPA) wants to make Utah chiropractors aware of an important upcoming change to UnitedHealthcare prior authorization requirements.
Effective October 1, 2026, UnitedHealthcare will no longer require prior authorization for CPT codes 98940, 98941 and 98942 under the applicable UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and Dual Special Needs Plans (D-SNP).
UnitedHealthcare has announced that it is eliminating approximately 30% of its prior authorization requirements across several plan types beginning October 1, 2026, as part of an effort to reduce administrative burden for health care providers.
What Is Changing for Chiropractic?
UnitedHealthcare’s official Medicare Advantage and D-SNP documentation specifically includes the following chiropractic manipulative treatment codes among those that will no longer require prior authorization beginning October 1:
98940 — Chiropractic manipulative treatment, spinal, 1–2 regions
98941 — Chiropractic manipulative treatment, spinal, 3–4 regions
98942 — Chiropractic manipulative treatment, spinal, 5 regions
All three codes appear on UnitedHealthcare’s list of codes being removed from prior authorization requirements for the applicable Medicare Advantage plans.
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IMPORTANT: This Does Not Eliminate Prior Authorization for UHC Commercial Chiropractic Plans
UnitedHealthcare is also eliminating prior authorization requirements for hundreds of CPT codes under its Commercial plans beginning October 1, 2026.
However, CPT codes 98940, 98941 and 98942 are not included on the UnitedHealthcare Commercial code-removal list provided for the October 1 change.
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Therefore, chiropractic practices should not assume that prior authorization requirements for chiropractic treatment have been eliminated for UnitedHealthcare Commercial patients.
Practices should continue verifying prior authorization requirements based on the patient’s specific UnitedHealthcare plan and benefits.
What Should Your Practice Do?
UCPA encourages practices to review this change with billing, front-office and administrative staff before October 1.
The key distinction is:
UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage / D-SNP:
CPT codes 98940, 98941 and 98942 are included in UHC’s October 1, 2026 prior authorization reduction.
UnitedHealthcare Commercial:
CPT codes 98940, 98941 and 98942 are not included in the October 1 Commercial code-removal document provided by UnitedHealthcare. Continue checking prior authorization requirements for these patients.
Continue Verifying Patient-Specific Requirements
This change should not be interpreted to mean that every UnitedHealthcare plan or every patient is exempt from prior authorization.
UnitedHealthcare specifically instructs providers to continue verifying plan-specific exceptions and requirements through the Prior Authorization and Notification Tool available through the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal.
This is especially important because UnitedHealthcare maintains different prior authorization requirements based on plan type, and its published requirements are updated periodically.
UnitedHealthcare Provider Resources
UnitedHealthcare October 2026 Prior Authorization Reduction Announcement
Read the UnitedHealthcare announcement
UnitedHealthcare Prior Authorization & Advance Notification Requirements
View current prior authorization requirements
UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal
Visit UHCprovider.com
UCPA Will Continue to Keep Members Informed
Insurance and prior authorization requirements continue to be an important issue for chiropractic practices. UCPA will continue monitoring changes that may affect Utah chiropractors and sharing information with our members as it becomes available.
If you are experiencing insurance, reimbursement or prior authorization issues in your practice, we want to hear from you. Keeping UCPA informed about what is happening in practices across Utah helps us identify broader issues affecting the profession.
Quick Reference
Effective: October 1, 2026
Payer: UnitedHealthcare
Codes: 98940, 98941, 98942
Medicare Advantage: Prior authorization removed for the applicable plans listed by UHC
D-SNP: Included in UHC’s published removal list
Commercial: 98940–98942 are not included in the Commercial October 1 removal list
Action: Continue verifying requirements for each patient’s specific plan
This information is being provided by the Utah Chiropractic Physicians Association as an informational resource for Utah chiropractic practices. Coverage, prior authorization requirements and plan-specific exceptions may vary. Providers should verify current requirements for each patient directly with UnitedHealthcare before providing services.
Sources
UnitedHealthcare. “Spend less time on approvals and more time with patients.” September 1, 2026. UHC states that beginning October 1 it is eliminating 30% of prior authorization requirements across Commercial, Medicare Advantage, Community and Individual Exchange plans.
View UnitedHealthcare announcement
UnitedHealthcare. “CPT codes no longer requiring prior authorization — UnitedHealthcare Medicare Advantage and D-SNP Plans.” The UHC document specifically lists 98940, 98941 and 98942 among the affected codes.
UnitedHealthcare. “CPT codes no longer requiring prior authorization — UnitedHealthcare Commercial Plans.” The Commercial removal list does not include 98940, 98941 or 98942.
UnitedHealthcare. Advance Notification and Prior Authorization Requirements. Providers can use this resource to review current requirements by plan type.
View UHC prior authorization requirements
