In 2023, the average U.S. physician had 43 prior authorizations (PAs) each week, and it took 12 hours each week for them and their staff to complete these. While the number of PAs has increased, the time taken to complete them has decreased slightly. PA is a method used by health plans to limit costs. It requires medical providers to get prior approval from the insurance plan before providing a patient with a prescription drug or other medical treatment that qualifies for payment.
Number of hours physicians spent each week completing prior authorizations (PAs) and number completed in the United States from 2019 to 2023
Currently practicing U.S. physicians that provide 20+ hours of patient care per week and complete PAs during a typical week of practice
Method of interview
Online survey
Supplementary notes
Medscape panel (40%PCP, 60% specialists).
Original question: "Thinking about all of the PAs you and your staff completed in the last week, please provide your best estimate of the number of hours spent on processing these PAs. Do not include PAs that practice staff completed for the patients of other physicians in your practice."
"Please provide your best estimate of the number of prescription and/or medical services PAs completed by you yourself and/or your staff for your patients in the last week. Do not include PAs that practice staff completed for the patients of other physicians in your practice."
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American Medical Association. (June 20, 2024). Number of hours physicians spent each week completing prior authorizations (PAs) and number completed in the United States from 2019 to 2023 [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved December 23, 2024, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155249/time-taken-to-complete-and-amount-of-pas-each-week-for-us-physicians-and-their-staff/
American Medical Association. "Number of hours physicians spent each week completing prior authorizations (PAs) and number completed in the United States from 2019 to 2023." Chart. June 20, 2024. Statista. Accessed December 23, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155249/time-taken-to-complete-and-amount-of-pas-each-week-for-us-physicians-and-their-staff/
American Medical Association. (2024). Number of hours physicians spent each week completing prior authorizations (PAs) and number completed in the United States from 2019 to 2023. Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: December 23, 2024. https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155249/time-taken-to-complete-and-amount-of-pas-each-week-for-us-physicians-and-their-staff/
American Medical Association. "Number of Hours Physicians Spent Each Week Completing Prior Authorizations (Pas) and Number Completed in The United States from 2019 to 2023." Statista, Statista Inc., 20 Jun 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155249/time-taken-to-complete-and-amount-of-pas-each-week-for-us-physicians-and-their-staff/
American Medical Association, Number of hours physicians spent each week completing prior authorizations (PAs) and number completed in the United States from 2019 to 2023 Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155249/time-taken-to-complete-and-amount-of-pas-each-week-for-us-physicians-and-their-staff/ (last visited December 23, 2024)
Number of hours physicians spent each week completing prior authorizations (PAs) and number completed in the United States from 2019 to 2023 [Graph], American Medical Association, June 20, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/1155249/time-taken-to-complete-and-amount-of-pas-each-week-for-us-physicians-and-their-staff/
