It's no secret that physicians are frequently frustrated by insurers' preauthorization requirements, but a new American Medical Association survey of about 2,400 physicians quantifies their opinions on the subject.

While the main takeaway is that doctors believe the time-consuming process of waiting for the green light from insurers to provide care hurts patients, other significant findings from the national survey include:

• 78 percent of physicians believe insurers use preauthorization requirements for an unreasonable list of tests, procedures and drugs.
• 46 percent of physicians experience difficulty obtaining approval from insurers on 25 percent or more of preauthorization requests for tests and procedures; 58 percent of doctors struggle to get approval from insurers on 25 percent or more of preauthorization requests for drugs.
• 63 percent of physicians typically wait several days to receive preauthorization from an insurer for tests and procedures, while 13 percent wait more than a week.
• 69 percent of physicians typically wait several days to receive preauthorization from an insurer for drugs, while 10 percent wait more than a week.
• Roughly two-thirds of physicians have difficulty determining which tests, procedures and drugs require insurer preauthorization.
• Physicians spend 20 hours per week on average obtaining preauthorizations.

"Nearly all physicians surveyed said that streamlining the preauthorization process is important, and 75 percent believe an automated process would increase efficiency," AMA Immediate Past President Dr. J. James Rohack said. "The AMA is urging health insurers to automate and streamline the current cumbersome preauthorization process so physicians can manage patient care more efficiently."

To learn more:
- read the press release from the AMA

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