March 19 (Reuters) - UnitedHealth Group's ( UNH )

pharmacy benefit manager, Optum Rx, said on Wednesday it would

ease requirements to get insurance authorization when renewing

prescriptions on about 80 drugs, aiming to reduce the paperwork

for patients and doctors.

The list, which could be expanded over time, will eliminate

up to 25% of these reauthorization requirements and accounts for

more than 10% of all such pharmacy authorizations, it said.

The killing of a UnitedHealth ( UNH ) executive last December had

set off an outpouring of complaints about insurance on social

media, including its and other health insurers' requirements to

seek their approval on medicines.

In January this year, UnitedHealth ( UNH ) said during a conference

call with investors that it would work with policymakers to

reduce the frequency of prior authorizations required before a

patient can access medical treatment in its Medicare business

for people aged 65 and older or with disabilities.

Reauthorizations, or certain checks that patients need to go

through to continue receiving their medications, are necessary

for drugs that have safety concerns, or need ongoing monitoring

for adjusting doses, or additional tests, UnitedHealth's ( UNH ) unit

said.

Newly approved drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer's

require ongoing review, whereas with genetic conditions like

cystic fibrosis, there is minimal additional value in

reauthorizing a treatment, the company said.

Pharmacy benefit managers negotiate drug prices and create

coverage lists for health plans, mainly for employers and the

government. They pay pharmacies directly for prescription drugs

under their agreed terms.

CVS Health's ( CVS ) Caremark, Cigna's ( CI ) Express

Scripts and UnitedHealth's ( UNH ) Optum control the majority of the

U.S. pharmacy benefit market, with their parent companies also

operating health insurance and pharmacy businesses.

They have come under scrutiny for their role in driving up

costs for drugs, and President Donald Trump has also said he

wants to knock out these middlemen.