On May 5, 2026, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Administrator, Dr. Mehmet Oz, published a statement updating the public on the status of the prior authorization system enhancements pledged by key health insurance companies last year.
Dr. Oz stated in his report that, “The current prior authorization process creates unnecessary delays for patients, burdens health care providers with excessive paperwork, and erodes trust between payers and health care providers, even though all share the same goal: delivering high-quality patient care.” He also noted the unnecessary costs associated with prior authorizations.
Following last year’s pledge, one health plan has slashed prior authorization by 30% with plans to increase that number, while other plans have decreased prior authorization by 11%.
In addition to complimenting the insurers for making impactful change, Dr. Oz also announced electronic prior authorization additions and expansions as the next steps for this initiative. Information about this can be found on the CMS’s Electronic Prior Authorization webpage.
Dr. Oz concluded, “When data flows seamlessly -- between a provider’s EHR, the payer’s electronic prior authorization interfaces, and a patient’s health record -- the entire system becomes more responsive, more accountable, and more focused on what matters most: getting patients the care they need without unnecessary delays or burdens.”
