As part of UnitedHealthcare’s (UHC) continuing initiative to move providers to all-paperless methods of communication by the end of 2022, the plan announced that it will soon discontinue mailing paper appeal decision, prior authorization and clinical decision letters. Providers will instead be directed to access this correspondence electronically through Document Library, UHC’s secure online repository of claim-related communication and reports, accessible via the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal.

Key dates:

• Beginning March 4, 2022, UHC will discontinue mailing appeal decision letters for its Medicare Advantage and commercial plans excluding UnitedHealthcare West plans.
• Beginning April 1, 2022, UHC will no longer mail prior authorization and clinical decision letters, including letters requesting additional information, approvals and denials.

Providers may also consider accessing this correspondence through Application Programming Interface (API) if they have an automated intake of correspondence or significant prior authorization or clinical letter volume with UHC.

Practices can also access these letters via TrackIt, a tool on the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal that allows providers to view recent activity, status updates and required actions for their outstanding issues.

Providers with questions can contact UHC Provider Services at (877) 842-3210.