Surescripts, a national health intelligence network, announced a significant expansion of its Touchless Prior Authorization technology, now serving more than 76,000 prescribers nationwide and supporting over 70 medications to streamline treatment access.\n\nThe technology aims to automate a process historically characterized by manual intervention, which frequently leads to treatment delays and administrative burden for both patients and healthcare providers. Prior authorization is designed to ensure patient safety and promote cost-effective care, but its manual execution has often resulted in frustration and delays in medication access.\n\nFrank Harvey, CEO for Surescripts, stated that the adoption of Touchless Prior Authorization demonstrates its capability to reduce obstacles in medication access and provide timely, high-quality care at scale. The system is currently operational across several prominent health systems, including Cleveland Clinic, Fairview Health Services, Garnet Health, The Ohio State University Medical Center, UNC Health, and Watson Clinic.\n\nTouchless Prior Authorization functions by extracting clinical data directly from the electronic health record and transmitting it to the pharmacy benefit manager. This integration facilitates rapid approvals, enabling patients to commence medication sooner while reducing the workload for healthcare staff. Tara Dragert, Chief Product Officer for Surescripts, noted that the technology represents a transformation beyond simple automation, ensuring patients receive necessary care promptly and efficiently by minimizing treatment barriers.\n\nSince its introduction earlier in 2025, the platform has demonstrated measurable improvements in the prior authorization process. Data from Surescripts network, spanning January 2025 through October 2025, indicates a median approval time of 22 seconds for in-scope medications. Additionally, pilot programs observed an 88% reduction in appeals and a 68% decrease in denials attributed to missing information, as documented by KLAS Research K2 Collaborative in September 2024.\n\nChristine Carmichael, Financial Access Service Manager at Fairview Health Services, commented on the challenges posed by traditional prior authorization, citing its slow and difficult nature, which often causes treatment delays, patient stress, and provider frustration. She highlighted that technology-driven improvements have streamlined these processes, allowing clinicians to prioritize patient care. Angela Odham, System Executive Director for UNC Health, echoed these sentiments, noting that Touchless Prior Authorization has helped their patients start treatment more quickly and enabled clinicians to concentrate on providing care. Dr. Joseph Chavez Carey, Medical Director for Primary Care at Garnet Health Doctors, emphasized the value of transitioning from a burdensome prior authorization system to a fast, seamless, and patient-centered experience, recognizing it as an example of smart technology driving meaningful change in healthcare.\n\nDespite these advancements, manual prior authorization processes remain prevalent across the healthcare industry. A recent survey revealed that more than half of prescribers identify prescription prior authorization delays or denials as a significant daily challenge, with one in five citing a prior authorization task as their biggest daily hurdle.\n\nSurescripts operates as a national health intelligence network, aiming to simplify health information sharing to enhance patient safety, reduce costs, and ensure quality care. Through the Surescripts Network Alliance, the organization facilitates intelligence and interoperability within the healthcare ecosystem for various functions, including prescribing, prior authorization, and care management.