For patients whose treatment requires prior authorization, the process delays access to necessary medical care from physicians 94 percent of the time, according to a March 14 survey of 1,001 physicians conducted by the American Medical Association.
Zero percent of physicians reported never being delayed by prior authorization, while 6 percent reported being rarely delayed. Thirty-seven percent are sometimes delayed, 42 percent are often delayed and 14 percent are always delayed.
Over half of the time, patients abandon their recommended treatment options because of issues related to prior authorization.
Fifty-two percent of physicians reported that their patients sometimes abandon treatment, while 26 percent report that it happens often.
Thirty-three percent of physicians report seeing adverse patient health effects due to delayed prior authorization, while 25 percent report that prior authorization has led at least one of their patients to the hospital.