2024 AMA Prior Authorization Physician Survey

Prior authorization (PA) is a health plan cost-control process that requires health care professionals to obtain advance approval from the health plan before a prescription medication or medical service qualifies for payment and can be delivered to the patient.

PA is overused, costly, inefficient, opaque and responsible for patient care delays. To assess the ongoing impact the 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. As this year’s findings demonstrate, the PA process continues to have a devastating effect on patient outcomes, physician burnout and employee productivity. For example, more than nine in 10 physicians (93%) report that PA delays access to necessary care. Explore the survey results to learn more.