Prior Authorizations, Hoops to jump thru

https://www.cns.org/legislative-affairs/about-washington-office/washington-e-newsletter/vol-51

Please Help the AANS/CNS Collect Information on Prior Authorization Practices

Health insurers are increasingly using prior authorization as a cost-control process that requires providers to obtain approval before rendering medical services. According to a recent survey conducted by the American Medical Association (AMA), every week, a medical practice completes an average of 37 prior authorization requirements per physician, which takes doctors and their staff an average of 16 hours, or the equivalent of two business days, to process. While the AANS and CNS understand the need to hold down health care costs, the inefficiency and lack of transparency associated with prior authorization costs physician practices both time and money. More importantly, however, are the delays in patient care that result from prior authorization programs, which can lead to poor health care outcomes.

We, therefore, believe that prior authorization is overused and should be reassessed. To that end, the AANS and CNS have joined the Alliance of Specialty Medicine in conducting a survey on prior authorization practices.... We will use the results of in our advocacy with state and federal lawmakers and regulators to eliminate inappropriate prior authorization requirements.

Tags: AAN (American Academy of Neurology), CNS (Congress of Neurological Surgeons)