PreAuthorizations Impact Care Negatively

The AMA has recently published findings from a survey querying over 2,400 physicians on the impact preauthorizations with an insurance company had on overall patient care.  For those endlessly frustrated by obtaining such preauthorizations, the results were no surprise.

According to the story at http://www.ama-assn.org/ama/pub/news/news/survey-insurer-preauthorization.shtml:

• More than one-third (37%) of physicians experience a 20 percent rejection rate from insurers on first-time preauthorization requests for tests and procedures. More than half (57%) of physicians experience a 20 percent rejection rate from insurers on first-time preauthorization requests for drugs.

• Nearly half (46%) of physicians experience difficulty obtaining approval from insurers on 25 percent or more of preauthorization requests for tests and procedures. More than half (58%) of physicians experience difficulty obtaining approval from insurers on 25 percent or more of preauthorization requests for drugs.

• Nearly two-thirds (63%) of physicians typically wait several days to receive preauthorization from an insurer for tests and procedures, while one in eight (13%) wait more than a week. More than two-thirds (69%) of physicians typically wait several days to receive preauthorization from an insurer for drugs, while one in ten (10%) wait more than a week.