insurance authorization wait times

How do prior authorization delays drive up patient out of pocket costs?

Running a small healthcare practice, I quickly realized that getting prior authorizations (PAs) approved for medications was one of the biggest operational headaches we faced. Most approvals took a few days, but sometimes it stretched into weeks, especially with complex drugs or incomplete paperwork. The delays frustrated our patients and overwhelmed our staff, who were already stretched thin trying to keep up with clinical care and insurance requirements. Prior authorization is basically the insurance company’s way of making sure a