On March 25, 2020, Arizona Governor Douglas A. Ducey issued an Executive Order stating “Beginning on March 25, 2020 and continuing for the duration of the Public Health Emergency declared in Arizona on March 11, 2020, in order to protect public health, expedite access to and treatment of health conditions, and to slow the spread of COVID-19 within healthcare facilities, all health insurance plans regulated by the Arizona Department of Insurance are hereby required to provide coverage for all healthcare services that are provided through telemedicine if the healthcare service would be covered were it provided through an in-person visit

UnitedHealthcare (UHC) Community Plan is adding 3 states (in addition to the 4 previously announced) that will require prior authorization prior to initiating physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services. In addition, UHC Community Plan is adding site of service medical necessity reviews for all speech, occupational and physical therapy services provided in a hospital outpatient setting in 2 of the 3 states. The new impacted states are

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan has announced they will implement prior authorization for outpatient physical, occupational and speech therapy services in select states beginning as early with dates of service on and after August 1, 2019. In addition, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan has announced they will be conducting site of service medical necessity reviews for all speech, occupational and physical therapy services in select states. Effective with dates of service on and after August 1, 2019, the following states will be required to obtain prior authorization before implementing outpatient physical, occupational and/or speech therapy services: