Let’s Change
Prior Authorization

Prior authorization costs time and money, undermines physicians’ expertise, and is detrimental to patient care: Excessive paperwork, phone calls, and approval processes are slow and burdensome for both doctors and patients meaning more time is spent on things that don't improve patient care and slow down health outcomes.

doctor wrapping a cast on a patient

The Problem with
Prior Authorization

Prior authorization is a system that allows health insurance companies to make decisions about what treatments will be covered for patients. The problem is, the process of getting prior authorization can take days or even weeks—with the underlying criteria for authorization being unclear.
Each week physicians spend up to two business days doing paperwork related to prior authorizations. The process is confusing and time-consuming, resulting in delays for patients’ access to care and undermining physicians when making informed decisions in the best interest of their patients.

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What We Are Doing
to Address Prior Authorization

NSMA is working tirelessly on advocacy to fix prior authorization.

What You Can Do to Support Our Advocacy

Raise Awareness

Speak out about the problems with prior authorization with your community, local media, and stakeholders

Address Issues

Address with legislators how the practice
is harmful to patients and providers alike

Show Your Support

Support organizations like the NSMA
in their collective efforts to change legislation

We Are Your Ally.
Your Voice Matters.
We want you to spend less time on administrative tasks and more time doing what you love—helping patients. But when precious resources are wasted, patient care suffers too. Join us in the collective effort to put patient care back where it belongs, in the hands of the experts.

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