AMA survey shows physicians, patients continue to be heavily burdened by prior authorization

A majority of physicians say the prior authorization process continues to negatively impact patient outcomes and employee productivity, according to a survey released May 13 by the American Medical Association. Nearly a quarter of physicians (26%) reported that prior authorization led to an adverse event for a patient, and more than 9 in 10 reported that prior authorization negatively impacts patient outcomes (92%) and delays access to care (95%). Nearly 1 in 3 physicians (32%) reported that prior authorization requests are often or always denied, and more than 4 in 5 (88%) reported that prior authorization requirements lead to higher overall use of resources, resulting in unnecessary waste.