Survey on Time Burdens of Prior Authorization

This report presents the findings of a survey conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA) that quantifies the time burdens associated with prior authorization (PA) requests faced by physicians. The survey, which included 1,000 physicians, reveals that on average, physicians complete 37 PA requests each week, with 75 percent of respondents indicating that the burden is high or extremely high. The report details that 22 percent of physicians spend over 20 hours a week on these requests, totaling nearly 853 hours annually. Additionally, 90 percent of physicians reported that the PA process delays patient access to necessary care, with 44 percent stating that requests often or always hold up care. The report highlights the outdated methods used for PA requests, such as fax machines and phone calls, which disrupt clinical workflows. Furthermore, it outlines a coalition's proposal for reforming the PA process, emphasizing the need for standardization and efficiency in handling these requests.