Life Sciences

Specialty Provider Market Access Survey

The SamaCare Team

The SamaCare Team

SamaCare conducted this survey to better understand the experiences of specialty practices in prescribing physician-administered medications as it relates to prior authorizations. The survey was fielded by Medscape, and included practitioners from a variety of specialties who commonly prescribe medications that require prior authorization.

It is widely accepted that prior authorization places a heavy burden on providers, so we wanted to know: How equipped are specialty practices to shoulder that burden? Do providers feel supported by pharmaceutical companies’ devoted market access teams in their quest to remove obstacles to patient care? Does the prior authorization process impact patient care and outcomes at speciality practices? Read our survey to find out.

96% of providers agree, prior authorization delays or denials would impact their likelihood to prescribe a drug.

1. How efficient is your practice at navigating the prior authorization process for physician-administered medications?

While the majority of respondents indicated their practice is “somewhat efficient” at handling prior authorizations, efficiency varied by specialty. Medical oncology practices were most likely to indicate their practice is “highly efficient” at navigating prior authorizations.

2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement:

Consistent prior authorization denials and/or delays for a specific drug would impact my likelihood to prescribe this medication if there was an equally effective alternative in the market.

of providers agree or somewhat agree

60% of respondents “highly agree”
35% of respondents “somewhat agree”
4% of respondents “neutral”

No respondents disagreed with this statement.

The prior authorization process impacts a providers likelihood to prescribe treatment if an equally effective alternative exists in the market.

3. Overall, how aware are you of market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies?

The majority of respondents indicated they are “somewhat aware” of  the market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies.

4. Overall, how often does your practice engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams in navigating the prior authorization process for their drugs?

While the majority of providers (78%) are aware of market access and reimbursement services, the majority (58%) also only occasionally, rarely, or never engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams.

5. How often are pharmaceutical market access teams effective at helping your practice troubleshoot prior authorizations?

The majority (60%) of providers indicate pharmaceutical market access teams are only occasionally, rarely, or never helpful.

2% of respondents indicated “Always”
38% of respondents indicated “Often”
52% of respondents indicated “Occasionally”
6% of respondents indicated “Rarely”
2% of respondents indicated “Never”

6. How does the prior authorization process impact patient care?

92% of providers indicate the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient care.

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
72% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
8% of respondents indicated “No impact”

7. How do prior authorization delays or denials impact patients' likelihood to adhere to a treatment plan?

86% of providers say the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patients' likelihood to adhere to treatment plan

34% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
52% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”

8. How does the prior authorization process impact patient outcomes?

86% of providers say PA process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient outcomes

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
66% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”



Notably, 100% of rheumatologists indicated highly or somewhat negative.

9. Overall, how would you describe your practice's relationship with pharmaceutical companies as it relates to patient access to treatment?

Pharmaceutical companies ...

Please select which setting best fits your practice

This study focused on community (private practices) in the United States.

Please select which specialty best fits your practice

Survey respondents represented a mix of medical specialists that commonly prescribe physician-administered medications that require prior authorization.

SamaCare conducted this survey to better understand the experiences of specialty practices in prescribing physician-administered medications as it relates to prior authorizations. The survey was fielded by Medscape, and included practitioners from a variety of specialties who commonly prescribe medications that require prior authorization.

It is widely accepted that prior authorization places a heavy burden on providers, so we wanted to know: How equipped are specialty practices to shoulder that burden? Do providers feel supported by pharmaceutical companies’ devoted market access teams in their quest to remove obstacles to patient care? Does the prior authorization process impact patient care and outcomes at speciality practices? Read our survey to find out.

96% of providers agree, prior authorization delays or denials would impact their likelihood to prescribe a drug.

1. How efficient is your practice at navigating the prior authorization process for physician-administered medications?

While the majority of respondents indicated their practice is “somewhat efficient” at handling prior authorizations, efficiency varied by specialty. Medical oncology practices were most likely to indicate their practice is “highly efficient” at navigating prior authorizations.

2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement:

Consistent prior authorization denials and/or delays for a specific drug would impact my likelihood to prescribe this medication if there was an equally effective alternative in the market.

of providers agree or somewhat agree

60% of respondents “highly agree”
35% of respondents “somewhat agree”
4% of respondents “neutral”

No respondents disagreed with this statement.

The prior authorization process impacts a providers likelihood to prescribe treatment if an equally effective alternative exists in the market.

3. Overall, how aware are you of market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies?

The majority of respondents indicated they are “somewhat aware” of  the market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies.

4. Overall, how often does your practice engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams in navigating the prior authorization process for their drugs?

While the majority of providers (78%) are aware of market access and reimbursement services, the majority (58%) also only occasionally, rarely, or never engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams.

5. How often are pharmaceutical market access teams effective at helping your practice troubleshoot prior authorizations?

The majority (60%) of providers indicate pharmaceutical market access teams are only occasionally, rarely, or never helpful.

2% of respondents indicated “Always”
38% of respondents indicated “Often”
52% of respondents indicated “Occasionally”
6% of respondents indicated “Rarely”
2% of respondents indicated “Never”

6. How does the prior authorization process impact patient care?

92% of providers indicate the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient care.

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
72% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
8% of respondents indicated “No impact”

7. How do prior authorization delays or denials impact patients' likelihood to adhere to a treatment plan?

86% of providers say the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patients' likelihood to adhere to treatment plan

34% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
52% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”

8. How does the prior authorization process impact patient outcomes?

86% of providers say PA process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient outcomes

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
66% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”



Notably, 100% of rheumatologists indicated highly or somewhat negative.

9. Overall, how would you describe your practice's relationship with pharmaceutical companies as it relates to patient access to treatment?

Pharmaceutical companies ...

Please select which setting best fits your practice

This study focused on community (private practices) in the United States.

Please select which specialty best fits your practice

Survey respondents represented a mix of medical specialists that commonly prescribe physician-administered medications that require prior authorization.

Life Sciences

Specialty Provider Market Access Survey

The SamaCare Team

The SamaCare Team

SamaCare conducted this survey to better understand the experiences of specialty practices in prescribing physician-administered medications as it relates to prior authorizations. The survey was fielded by Medscape, and included practitioners from a variety of specialties who commonly prescribe medications that require prior authorization.

It is widely accepted that prior authorization places a heavy burden on providers, so we wanted to know: How equipped are specialty practices to shoulder that burden? Do providers feel supported by pharmaceutical companies’ devoted market access teams in their quest to remove obstacles to patient care? Does the prior authorization process impact patient care and outcomes at speciality practices? Read our survey to find out.

96% of providers agree, prior authorization delays or denials would impact their likelihood to prescribe a drug.

1. How efficient is your practice at navigating the prior authorization process for physician-administered medications?

While the majority of respondents indicated their practice is “somewhat efficient” at handling prior authorizations, efficiency varied by specialty. Medical oncology practices were most likely to indicate their practice is “highly efficient” at navigating prior authorizations.

2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement:

Consistent prior authorization denials and/or delays for a specific drug would impact my likelihood to prescribe this medication if there was an equally effective alternative in the market.

of providers agree or somewhat agree

60% of respondents “highly agree”
35% of respondents “somewhat agree”
4% of respondents “neutral”

No respondents disagreed with this statement.

The prior authorization process impacts a providers likelihood to prescribe treatment if an equally effective alternative exists in the market.

3. Overall, how aware are you of market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies?

The majority of respondents indicated they are “somewhat aware” of  the market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies.

4. Overall, how often does your practice engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams in navigating the prior authorization process for their drugs?

While the majority of providers (78%) are aware of market access and reimbursement services, the majority (58%) also only occasionally, rarely, or never engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams.

5. How often are pharmaceutical market access teams effective at helping your practice troubleshoot prior authorizations?

The majority (60%) of providers indicate pharmaceutical market access teams are only occasionally, rarely, or never helpful.

2% of respondents indicated “Always”
38% of respondents indicated “Often”
52% of respondents indicated “Occasionally”
6% of respondents indicated “Rarely”
2% of respondents indicated “Never”

6. How does the prior authorization process impact patient care?

92% of providers indicate the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient care.

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
72% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
8% of respondents indicated “No impact”

7. How do prior authorization delays or denials impact patients' likelihood to adhere to a treatment plan?

86% of providers say the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patients' likelihood to adhere to treatment plan

34% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
52% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”

8. How does the prior authorization process impact patient outcomes?

86% of providers say PA process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient outcomes

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
66% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”



Notably, 100% of rheumatologists indicated highly or somewhat negative.

9. Overall, how would you describe your practice's relationship with pharmaceutical companies as it relates to patient access to treatment?

Pharmaceutical companies ...

Please select which setting best fits your practice

This study focused on community (private practices) in the United States.

Please select which specialty best fits your practice

Survey respondents represented a mix of medical specialists that commonly prescribe physician-administered medications that require prior authorization.

SamaCare conducted this survey to better understand the experiences of specialty practices in prescribing physician-administered medications as it relates to prior authorizations. The survey was fielded by Medscape, and included practitioners from a variety of specialties who commonly prescribe medications that require prior authorization.

It is widely accepted that prior authorization places a heavy burden on providers, so we wanted to know: How equipped are specialty practices to shoulder that burden? Do providers feel supported by pharmaceutical companies’ devoted market access teams in their quest to remove obstacles to patient care? Does the prior authorization process impact patient care and outcomes at speciality practices? Read our survey to find out.

96% of providers agree, prior authorization delays or denials would impact their likelihood to prescribe a drug.

1. How efficient is your practice at navigating the prior authorization process for physician-administered medications?

While the majority of respondents indicated their practice is “somewhat efficient” at handling prior authorizations, efficiency varied by specialty. Medical oncology practices were most likely to indicate their practice is “highly efficient” at navigating prior authorizations.

2. To what extent do you agree or disagree with the following statement:

Consistent prior authorization denials and/or delays for a specific drug would impact my likelihood to prescribe this medication if there was an equally effective alternative in the market.

of providers agree or somewhat agree

60% of respondents “highly agree”
35% of respondents “somewhat agree”
4% of respondents “neutral”

No respondents disagreed with this statement.

The prior authorization process impacts a providers likelihood to prescribe treatment if an equally effective alternative exists in the market.

3. Overall, how aware are you of market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies?

The majority of respondents indicated they are “somewhat aware” of  the market access and reimbursement services offered by pharmaceutical companies.

4. Overall, how often does your practice engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams in navigating the prior authorization process for their drugs?

While the majority of providers (78%) are aware of market access and reimbursement services, the majority (58%) also only occasionally, rarely, or never engage the assistance of pharmaceutical market access teams.

5. How often are pharmaceutical market access teams effective at helping your practice troubleshoot prior authorizations?

The majority (60%) of providers indicate pharmaceutical market access teams are only occasionally, rarely, or never helpful.

2% of respondents indicated “Always”
38% of respondents indicated “Often”
52% of respondents indicated “Occasionally”
6% of respondents indicated “Rarely”
2% of respondents indicated “Never”

6. How does the prior authorization process impact patient care?

92% of providers indicate the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient care.

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
72% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
8% of respondents indicated “No impact”

7. How do prior authorization delays or denials impact patients' likelihood to adhere to a treatment plan?

86% of providers say the prior authorization process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patients' likelihood to adhere to treatment plan

34% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
52% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”

8. How does the prior authorization process impact patient outcomes?

86% of providers say PA process has a negative or somewhat negative impact on patient outcomes

20% of respondents indicated “Highly negative”
66% of respondents indicated “Somewhat negative”
14% of respondents indicated “No impact”



Notably, 100% of rheumatologists indicated highly or somewhat negative.

9. Overall, how would you describe your practice's relationship with pharmaceutical companies as it relates to patient access to treatment?

Pharmaceutical companies ...

Please select which setting best fits your practice

This study focused on community (private practices) in the United States.

Please select which specialty best fits your practice

Survey respondents represented a mix of medical specialists that commonly prescribe physician-administered medications that require prior authorization.