Prior Authorization Best Practices for 2026

Prior authorization is one of the top three denial drivers for specialty practices. The fix is not working harder—it is working earlier in the patient journey.

Verify auth requirements at scheduling, not at claim submission. Build payer-specific checklists for your top ten CPT codes by volume.

Track authorization expiration dates and link them to upcoming appointments. Expired auth is one of the most avoidable denial categories.

Document medical necessity in the clinical record before submission. Payers increasingly audit the clinical note, not just the auth number.