Reduce the burden of prior authorization

Prior authorization is one of the biggest administrative burdens family physicians face, and increasing requirements are taking time away from patient care and putting financial strain on practices.

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Why prior authorization is a problem

Physicians often must obtain advance approval for a device, supply, service or medication from a patient’s insurance plan to ensure coverage. This time-consuming process is a huge burden for family physicians and their practice staff, diverting valuable resources away from patient care and leading to delays in care and adverse health outcomes for patients.

What the AAFP is doing to help with prior authorization

The AAFP fiercely drives efforts to reform prior authorization and remains focused on enabling physicians and patients to have access to clear guidelines for prior authorization requirements and timely responses from insurance plans.

Here are examples of the AAFP's policy efforts to reform prior authorization at the national level:

FPM library: Prior authorization