New policy adopted Monday at the 2014 AMA Interim Meeting calls for limiting the use of prior authorization of health care services so that physicians are not prevented from giving patients the safe, high-quality care they deserve.
Citing how prior authorization often unnecessarily interrupts the delivery of care and places undue administrative and financial burdens on physicians, the new policy directs the AMA to further address this obstacle to high-quality, affordable care:
- Mitigate the burden of preauthorization and other utilization review efforts
- Conduct a study that quantifies the administrative burden of prior authorization, authorizations and denials of authorization appeals. This will include the time taken away from patient care activities. The study is expected to take place next year, and results will be made available early in 2016.
