Medication Prior Authorization Biggest Daily Challenge for 1 in 5 Prescribers, Survey Says

Healthcare providers cite medication prior authorization as an ongoing barrier to patient care, according to the results of a Surescripts survey published today. However, this frustration is expressed alongside optimism, with nearly all respondents willing to adopt new technologies such as automatic prior authorization submission to improve access to timely treatment.

“[Providers and prescribers] share a nearly universal concern about the typical prior authorization process, which is especially alarming because they say it is contributing to patient harm, delaying treatment, or worse, causing patients to abandon treatment altogether,” Frank Harvey, CEO, Surescripts, said in the news release. “It’s promising to see that despite this, clinicians are overwhelmingly open to adopting real-time, tech-enabled solutions that streamline the prior authorization process to get patients the care they need when they need it.”

Surescripts and APCO Insight partnered to conduct the online survey of 253 prescribers and 250 pharmacists, which took place from May 28 to June 16, 2025.

At the time of the survey, qualified pharmacists were employed at a retail pharmacy, hospital or health system; filled at least 25 prescriptions a week; and had between 2 and 30 years of experience.

Qualified prescribers had to be employed as a physician, physician’s assistant or nurse practitioner and fill at least one prescription each week.