Which action grants prior approval for reimbursement of a health care service?

Preauthorization is the action that grants prior approval for reimbursement of a health care service. This process involves obtaining approval from an insurance company before the actual service is rendered. It ensures that the treatment or procedure is deemed medically necessary and covered under the patient's plan. By securing preauthorization, healthcare providers can confirm that the insurance will reimburse for the service, which helps patients understand their financial responsibilities beforehand.

Preapproval is often used interchangeably with preauthorization, but it may not specifically denote the requirement for reimbursement. An eligibility check is used to ascertain if a patient qualifies for coverage under a specific health plan but does not guarantee approval for a specific service. Claim submission occurs after services are provided and is the process by which the healthcare provider requests payment from the insurance company, but it does not involve prior approval for the service itself. Thus, preauthorization is the essential step that ensures a service will be reimbursed before it occurs.