Here’s what we can do to minimize the daily hassle of prior authorizations
Disruptive and expensive—what could be worse for your and your patients’ morale?
Much to do in limited time
Time isn’t elastic; setting priorities is vital. Most physicians would, I think, agree that their priorities are:
• giving patients adequate time at office visits
• returning calls from patients with urgent messages
• communicating with professional colleagues about shared patients
• returning calls from pharmacists who have questions about prescriptions
• researching solutions to clinical problems
• keeping up with the literature.
Physicians must decide where completing PAs—intrusive, time-consuming, and a threat to morale—fits in that list. Should PAs be allowed to supplant, or delay, the completion of other vital, positive clinical priorities?
Until we are able to introduce improvements that speed up the PA process, patients will have the supply of their medications disrupted and physicians will pay in time, money, and morale.
Disclosure
Dr. Mode reports no financial relationship with any company whose products are mentioned in this article or with manufacturers of competing products.
