Only 1 in 3 Doctors Believe Insurers Will Fix Prior Authorization Woes, AMA Survey Shows
Understanding Prior Authorization
Prior authorization is a process many health insurance companies use. Before a patient can get a certain test, procedure, or medication, the doctor must first get approval from the insurer. In theory, this helps make sure the care is truly needed and avoids unnecessary costs. In practice, physicians and patients often find the process to be slow, confusing, and frustrating. Doctors spend hours on paperwork and phone calls. Patients can wait days or even weeks for an answer, which may delay important treatment.
The American Medical Association (AMA) has long called for reforms to prior authorization. The group says the current system hurts patient care and adds to doctor burnout. Over the years, many health insurers have promised to reduce the burden. A new AMA survey asked doctors if they believe the latest pledges will lead to real change. The results show deep doubt.
Insurers Pledge Reforms, But Faith Is Low
In June 2025, a coalition of about 60 insurers made several promises. They said they would standardize electronic prior authorization by the end of 2026. The goal is to make the process faster and more uniform across different health plans. The insurers also pledged to reduce the number of claims that need medical prior authorization. Another pledge was to honor prior approvals from a previous insurer for a period of time when a patient switches plans. This would help people avoid having to start the approval process all over again when they change coverage.
In addition, insurers said they planned to increase the number of real-time responses to authorization requests. They also stated that any claim denied for clinical reasons would continue to be reviewed by a medical professional. However, they did not promise that the reviewer would be in the same specialty as the treating doctor. That has been a long-standing complaint from physicians, who argue that a specialist should review their requests—not someone who may not fully understand the patient’s condition.
What the Survey Found
To measure physician trust, the AMA surveyed 1,000 practicing doctors in December 2025. The online survey contained 44 questions. Among the respondents, 40% were primary care physicians and 60% were specialists. All participants provide at least 20 hours of direct patient care each week.
The key finding: only one in three physicians (33%) believe the insurers’ commitments will result in meaningful improvements for patients and doctors. The AMA released the results this week, ahead of the first major 2026 deadline for the promised changes. The organization said the survey shows a clear gap between what insurers say they will do and what clinicians actually expect to see in their daily work.
Which Insurers Create the Most Paperwork?
Doctor frustration is not just about promises. The survey also captured the day-to-day reality of administrative burden. The AMA asked physicians to rate various health insurers on how much of a “high” or “extremely high” prior authorization hassle they cause. The results highlight widespread problems across the industry
Source: MedPage Today
