Centene to exempt 160,000 providers from routine prior authorization
Centene announced on October 13, 2026 that it will launch a National Performance-Based Gold Card Program in November, exempting about 160,000 providers nationwide from routine prior authorization on certain outpatient services based on their approval history, documentation quality and compliance record. The program spans Centene's commercial, Medicare Advantage and Medicaid lines of business. Qualifying providers must still submit a pre-notification before rendering care but won't have to wait for a prior-authorization decision first. The company says it expects to expand the list of covered services and eligible providers over time.
Why it's notable: Prior authorization delays are one of the most common administrative complaints from physician practices, and a gold-card exemption spanning 160,000 providers across all of a major insurer's business lines removes a meaningful share of that paperwork for qualifying clinics.