Last modified: Oct. 7, 2025
Update: No prior authorization for outpatient therapies in Kansas.
Effective Nov. 1, 2025, UnitedHealthcare will require health care providers to obtain prior authorization for physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT) and speech therapy (ST) services for UnitedHealthcare Community Plan members in North Carolina and Virginia. In North Carolina, this is an expansion to members over 21 years of age.
For North Carolina, the changes below will apply to members both under and over 21 years of age.
Prior authorization is required for the entire plan of care, excluding the initial evaluation codes, for all outpatient therapy services (PT, ST, OT). Please note the following important requirements:
These prior authorization requirements apply to patients new to therapy and those who are currently receiving therapy.
Prior authorizations can be submitted beginning Oct. 1, 2025 for dates of service after on or after Nov. 1, 2025.
For patients currently receiving care, submit treatment plans for dates of service on or after Nov. 1, 2025, for medical necessity review. A prior authorization request must still be submitted to ensure claims are paid. The following documentation is required when submitting a prior authorization request for physical, speech, and occupational therapy services:
You can submit your prior authorization request using the Prior Authorization and Notification tool on the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal.
The following are excluded from the new requirement.
Details on exclusions, impacted CPT® codes, clinical examples and the authorization and claims submission process are included in our program FAQ.
Connect with us through chat 24/7 in the UnitedHealthcare Provider Portal.
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