Aetna, the healthcare subsidiary of CVS Health, expanded bundled prior authorizations across all cancer types for members in eligible Medicaid states starting September 1. The process combines medical oncology, including chemotherapy and immunotherapy where appropriate, radiation oncology and high-tech imaging such as MRI and CT scans into one submission through a single portal. The initiative builds on an initial rollout in which nearly 25% of eligible members received a bundled authorization. Aetna said providers previously submitted an average of four separate requests for each member requiring oncology services. The insurer plans to extend the bundles to Medicare and commercial members in the first half of 2027 and eventually across all lines of business by 2027. Administrative workload remains a major concern: 74% of respondents in Aetna’s latest provider survey identified it as the top issue facing clinical staff, while 31% named prior authorization management as the largest contributor. Aetna said 80% of respondents expect administrative technology such as bundles to save more than 30 minutes daily, and 30% expect savings of more than an hour. CVS Health shares were down 0.15% at $91.58 at the time of publication, according to Benzinga Pro data.