Medicare AdvantageAdministrativeMedium impact
Turnaround time for authorizations changing
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island·RI·Physician / Facility
Effective date
Jan 1, 2026
We identified it
Jun 19, 2026
Summary
BCBS Rhode Island is reducing the turnaround time for routine prior authorizations from 14 calendar days to 7 calendar days, effective January 1, 2026. This change applies to both Medicare and Medicaid cases and follows new CMS requirements.
Action Required
Before January 1, 2026: Update internal workflows and staff training to expect faster authorization responses from BCBSRI. Adjust scheduling and patient communication processes to account for 7-day authorization turnaround instead of 14 days. Monitor authorization status more frequently to take advantage of faster processing times.