How time consuming is prior authorization for physicians, practices?

Physicians are dealing with burnout at record rates, brought on by a number of factors, including increased administrative burdens, inadequate support to mitigate obstacles and the “archaic” prior authorization process, according to a recent article by American Medical Association President Jack Resneck Jr., MD. 

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Physicians and staff spend an average of two whole workdays per week completing prior authorizations, taking them away from patients and patient care for about 14 hours a week, according to a March 14 report from the AMA that surveyed 1,001 practicing physicians. 

Medical practices complete 45 prior authorizations per physician per week on average. 

Eighty-eight percent of physicians reported prior authorization burden as being either high or extremely high, while 2 in 5 physicians employ staff members to work exclusively on prior authorizations, the report said. 

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