Electronic Prior Authorization can have a positive impact for both physicians and patients.
America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) published a news release stating that an analysis of the E-prior authorization process found that it was able to significantly reduce the time between a request for authorization and a decision and the time between the decision and the fact that a patient received the treatment.
“Prior authorization is an important tool in helping patients receive safe, effective, clinically appropriate care,” Kate Berry, senior vice president of clinical affairs at AHIP, says in the release. “We are always looking for ways to enhance the patient and provider experience, and E-prior authorizations is an example. Today’s analysis provides a blueprint for how to leverage electronic tools to improve prior authorization.”
The study found that 71 percent of experienced providers who use E-prior authorizations reported faster time to patient care, furthermore electronic authorization reduced the time between submitting and receiving a decision from the insurer by 69 percent, according to the release.
Other findings from the study include:
- More than half of experienced users reported fewer calls and faxes while more than 60 percent reported less time spent of phone calls and faxes.
- 60 percent of experienced users say that electronic prior authorization made it easier to understand if authorization was required.
- 57 percent say that E-prior authorizations made it easier to understand the requirements.
- 54 percent say that E-prior authorizations makes it easier to view the decision.
“The review of over 40,000 transactions showed the impact E-prior authorizations makes in health care,” Denise H. Clayton, PhD, research economist of health economics and evaluation at RTI International, says in the release. “Because clinicians and their staff report more benefits from (E-prior authorizations) when they use it more often, greater provider adoption of E-prior authorizations) could help further realize its promise.”
