04/09/2026
AMA Releases Physician Survey Results on Prior Authorization
To assess the ongoing impact the Prior Authorization (PA) process has on patients, physicians, employers and overall health care spending, the American Medical Association (AMA) annually conducts a nationwide survey of 1,000 practicing physicians (400 primary care/600 specialists) from a wide range of practice settings.
While health plans and benefit managers contend PA programs are necessary to control costs, physicians and other providers find these programs to be time-consuming barriers to the delivery of necessary treatment. And this year’s findings demonstrate, the PA process continues to have a devastating effect on patient outcomes, physician burnout and employee productivity. In addition to negatively impacting care delivery and frustrating physicians, PA also leads to unnecessary spending (e.g., additional office visits, unanticipated hospital stays and patients regularly paying out-of-pocket for care).
Also, as a reminder, prior authorization legislation (HB 220) to streamline the process has passed in the Ohio House! OSMA has been supporting HB 220 since last spring, alongside a slate of other key insurance reform initiatives.
Below are some highlights from AMA's findings on physician and patient impact from their 2024 prior authorization physician survey.
Please stay tuned for more insurance reform updates as OSMA continues tolead a major campaign in support of a series of legislative proposals that seek to put patients' interests over insurance companies.