While insurers impose prior authorization requirements to manage cost and quality control, most physicians say the rules cause unnecessary waste and can lead to avoidable harm for patients, according to a survey out Monday from the American Medical Association.
Over a third of physicians said the requirements led to a serious adverse event for one of their patients, such as hospitalization, permanent impairment or death, the survey found.
About 60% said the requirements led to resources being diverted to ineffective initial treatments or additional office visits, and almost half said they lead patients to seek urgent or emergency care.