UnitedHealthcare starts accelerated Medicare Advantage payments to rural hospitals

UnitedHealthcare launched a six-month pilot that speeds Medicare Advantage claim payments to independent rural hospitals in Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri. The company said average payment times for those providers fall from under 30 days to under 15 days. The move is a provider-relations step meant to ease cash flow while the company resets its Medicare book.

• Six-month pilot in four states: Oklahoma, Idaho, Minnesota and Missouri
• Average Medicare Advantage payment time cut from under 30 days to under 15 days
• Aimed at independent rural hospitals selected by the company