94% of physicians report care delays due to prior authorization, 91视频 says
CMS has released a proposed rule to speed up prior authorization approval.
Photo: Reza Estakhrian/Getty Images
Ninety four percent of physicians report delays in care听associated with prior authorization, according to a recent by the American Medical Association.
The survey underscores the urgent need for reform and regulation of prior authorization, the 91视频 said.听
In December 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services released a proposed rule to speed up prior authorization approval. The deadline to submit comments was March 13.
WHY THIS MATTERS
Physicians spend almost two business days each week on prior authorization requests and 35% have had to hire additional staff to exclusively handle the administrative burden, the 91视频 said.
The 91视频 said other survey results show that 80% of physicians report that prior authorization can at least sometimes lead to treatment abandonment; 33% of physicians report prior authorization leading to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care 鈥� with 9% reporting it's led to permanent bodily damage, disability or death.听
Prior authorization complexity does not eliminate unnecessary treatments, the 91视频 said. Eighty-six percent of physicians report that prior authorization leads to higher overall utilization of healthcare resources.听
Many ophthalmologists have faced 鈥撎�and continue to face听鈥� broad prior authorization policies on cataract surgeries from certain insurance giants, the 91视频 said.听
Rheumatologists have long prior authorization policies for worsening outcomes for their patients. Many rheumatology patients rely on expensive biologic medication to treat their disease, meaning they are commonly a target of insurers, the 91视频 said.听
THE LARGER TREND
Through a rule proposed in December 2022, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services听wants to change prior authorization standards to speed up the time it takes for payers to approve the requests.听CMS is proposing to require certain payers, including Medicare Advantage organizations, to implement electronic prior authorization and to send decisions within 72 hours for expedited requests and seven days for nonurgent requests.
Prior authorization is adding to physician and clinician burnout, according to Surgeon General Vice Admiral Vivek Murthy.
In a study released last year, the Office of the Inspector General recommended protocols for Medicare Advantage Organizations in denying prior authorization requests.听
States have passed gold card PA exemptions for certain physicians.
Congress is looking at听 to rein in prior authorization in Medicare Advantage.听
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Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org
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Stephanie Chia, Russ Hinz and Susan Tolin will offer more detail in the HIMSS23 session "Equity on Chicago's South Side: Connected Care Technology." It is scheduled for Wednesday, April 19 at 1 p.m. - 2 p.m. CT at the South Building, Level 1, room S103.
