Surescripts, athenahealth Expand Availability of Prior Authorization Automation to Help More Patients Access Medications Faster

Nearly 98% of prescribers using athenahealth’s EHR can now obtain prior authorization determinations for supported medications automatically inside the prescribing workflow

ARLINGTON, Va.– November 12, 2026 – Surescripts® and athenahealth have enabled Prior Authorization Automation for nearly 98% of prescribers using AI-native athenaOne®, athenahealth’s electronic health record. Integrated into the prescribing workflow, the capability helps reduce manual steps and speed up approvals for supported medications, helping patients access prescribed treatments sooner.

Surescripts Prior Authorization Automation is now available for 200 medications¹.

“Every prior authorization request is one person waiting to find out whether they can start the medication they were just prescribed,” said Frank Harvey, CEO, Surescripts. “Collaborating with athenahealth to replace manual workflows with Prior Authorization Automation is key to delivering greater impact, helping more patients get started on prescription therapies without unnecessary delays and keeping their care on track.”

“When prior authorization requirements aren’t identified until after a prescription is sent, they can delay treatment,” said Chad Dodd, vice president of product management at athenahealth. “Integrating Surescripts Prior Authorization Automation into the prescribing workflow allows teams to address these requirements earlier and helps patients get the therapies they need sooner.”

According to the American Medical Association’s 2025 physician survey, 79% of physicians report that prior authorizations can at least sometimes lead to patients abandoning treatment, while 95% report delays. Surescripts and athenahealth are helping to address these challenges by automating manual steps and reducing reliance on faxes, forms and phone calls, helping patients access prescribed medications sooner.

How it works

Surescripts Prior Authorization Automation is embedded in the athenaOne Medication Management workflow, bringing prior authorization directly into the prescribing process. For eligible prescriptions, Surescripts technology automatically retrieves the required clinical information from athenaOne and sends it to the pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), enabling automated approval when payer requirements are met. This integrated approach helps reduce manual work and delays that can slow patients’ access to medications. In 2025, Surescripts Prior Authorization Automation supported 18-second (median) approvals when all criteria were met for 83 medications.