Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39328396›Full record

ArticleHealth affairs scholar2024

Perceptions of prior authorization burden and solutions.

Nikhil R Sahni, Brooke Istvan, Celia Stafford, David Cutler

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Health affairs scholar, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
7citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

7 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Article
  2. Article
  3. Article
  4. Use of clinical outcome assessments in specialty drug coverage policies.Journal of managed care & specialty pharmacy · 2026
    Article
  5. Article
  6. Article
  7. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

4 authors.

Nikhil R SahniDepartment of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States.
Brooke IstvanGraduate School of Business, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, 94305, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0009-0009-7263-4612
Celia StaffordHarvard Business School, Boston, MA, 02163, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3394-9661
David CutlerDepartment of Economics, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, 02138, United States.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4949-8917

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The prior authorization (PA) process consumes time and money on the part of patients, providers, and payers. While some research shows substantial possible savings in the PA process, identifying what different groups can do is not as well known. Thus, organizations have struggled to capture this opportunity. To understand different perspectives on PA burden and receptivity to possible changes in the PA process, we surveyed 1005 patients, 1010 provider employees, and 115 private payer employees. Patients reported the longest perceived wait times but indicated the highest perceived approval rates and lowest perceived burden. The relatively low burden for patients is because most do not have to engage in PA directly. Provider respondents reported spending time equivalent of more than 100 000 full-time registered nurses per year on prior authorization. Artificial intelligence (AI) represents a possible solution: 65% of private payer respondents reported that their organizations planned to incorporate AI into the process in the next 3 to 5 years. Intended adoption by provider respondents is much smaller (11%). Private payer respondents cited cybersecurity concerns and a lack of technical infrastructure as barriers; provider respondents cited lack of budget and limited trust in the technology.

Indexed as

access to carecost of healthcarenursespatientsphysiciansprivate health insurance

Identifiers

PMID39328396
PMCPMC11425057

What OpenQuestion holds

Textmetadata
LicenceCC BY-NC
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.