The Medical Society of the State of New York Urges Governor Hochul and State Legislature to Reform Prior Authorization Process in Final FY2026 Budget

For Immediate Release

The Medical Society of the State of New York Urges Governor Hochul and State Legislature
to Reform Prior Authorization Process in Final FY2026 Budget

May 13, 2026, Westbury, NY – Despite widely publicized promises made last summer by more than 60 health insurers — including UnitedHealthcare, Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Elevance Health, and Blue Cross Blue Shield Association plans — to voluntarily reform the prior authorization process by reducing barriers to patient access and easing long-standing administrative burdens on physicians, new data from the American Medical Association (AMA) shows that physicians remain skeptical, reflecting years of unfulfilled commitments. Several targeted reforms were proposed in this year’s Executive Budget, along with comprehensive legislation sponsored by Assemblymember David Weprin and Senator Gustavo Rivera.

The Medical Society of the State of New York is calling on Governor Hochul and the State Legislature to finally address this issue in the FY2026 final budget and adopt meaningful policy reforms.

The AMA survey highlights continuing concerns that health insurers’ prior authorization requirements delay care, disrupt treatment, and negatively impact patient outcomes:

• Patient Harm — More than one in four physicians (26%) report that prior authorization has resulted in a serious adverse event, including hospitalization, permanent impairment, or death.
• Delayed Care — More than nine in 10 physicians (95%) say prior authorization delays access to necessary care.
• Disrupted Care — Nearly four in five physicians (79%) report that patients abandon treatment because of authorization challenges.
• Poor Outcomes — More than nine in 10 physicians (92%) say prior authorization negatively affects clinical outcomes.

“Prior authorizations place overwhelming burdens on physicians and create unnecessary delays in needed patient care. Delays in the authorization of prescriptions, tests, or procedures can cause needless anxiety for patients already coping with uncertainty about their condition, while also undermining physicians’ clinical expertise in treating their patients,” said Dr. Mark J. Adams. “Governor Hochul and the State Legislature must address this issue in the FY2026 final budget and enact policy changes that put patients first.”

A recent study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine concluded that for every hour a physician spends delivering care to a patient, two additional hours are spent on administrative tasks. In addition, the AMA’s most recent physician survey found that 94% of responding physicians said the prior authorization process delayed patient access to necessary care, while 90% reported that prior authorization resulted in somewhat or significantly negative clinical outcomes. The survey also found that prior authorization contributed to serious adverse events, including patient hospitalization, interventions to prevent permanent impairment or damage, patient disability, permanent bodily injury, congenital anomalies, birth defects, and death.

Patients with chronic conditions often have complex medical needs, and their health depends on adherence to strict treatment regimens. Timely access to medications and treatment is essential to maintaining those regimens. Prior authorization requirements can increase the risk of treatment interruptions or worsening disease progression because of delays in care, negatively affecting both quality of life and health outcomes. All patients deserve the assurance that they will receive timely treatment and that medically necessary care will continue to be covered by their insurance plan.

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Founded in 1807, the Medical Society of the State of New York is the state’s principal non-profit professional organization for physicians, residents, and medical students of all specialties. Its mission is to represent the interests of patients and physicians to assure quality healthcare services for all. 

Media Contact:
Roseann Raia | Manager, Communications
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
516.488.6100 x302 | [email protected]

Julie Vecchione
Vice President, Communications
Medical Society of the State of New York
865 Merrick Avenue
Westbury, NY 11590
516.488.6100 x340 | [email protected]