5 Ways to Speed Up Prior Authorization for Biologics and Infusions

Prior authorization (PA) remains one of the biggest bottlenecks in getting patients timely access to biologics and infusion therapies. For providers—especially those managing chronic and complex conditions like inflammatory bowel disease or autoimmune disorders—it creates administrative drag, delayed care, and frustrated staff. For patients, it can mean postponed treatment, disease progression, and unnecessary anxiety.

While payer requirements aren’t going away anytime soon, there are proven ways to streamline the process. Below are five practical strategies healthcare organizations can use to significantly reduce delays and improve approval turnaround for biologics and infusions.

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Table of Contents

1. Standardize Documentation Before Submission

One of the most common reasons for PA delays is incomplete or inconsistent documentation. Missing clinical notes, unclear diagnosis codes, or lack of step-therapy evidence often trigger back-and-forth requests from payers.

This challenge is especially common in specialties like gastroenterology, where biologics are frequently prescribed and payer scrutiny is high. Implementing standardized workflows—similar to those used in specialized services like gastroenterology billing and coding—can significantly reduce errors.

How to speed things up:

• Create therapy-specific PA checklists for common biologics and infusions

• Ensure documentation clearly includes:

  • Diagnosis and ICD-10 codes

  • Previous therapies tried and failed

  • Relevant lab values and clinical markers

• Use standardized templates embedded directly into your EHR

When documentation is complete on the first submission, approvals move faster—and denials decrease.

2. Identify Payer-Specific Requirements Up Front

Not all payers evaluate biologics the same way. Each may have unique criteria for medical necessity, preferred products, or site-of-care rules.

A structured prior authorization process that accounts for payer-specific rules can eliminate unnecessary delays and resubmissions.

Best practices include:

• Maintaining an internal payer requirements library for high-volume plans

• Tracking plan-specific nuances such as:

  • Step therapy thresholds

  • Biosimilar preferences

  • Dose and frequency limits

• Updating requirements quarterly to reflect policy changes

Knowing exactly what each payer expects upfront helps teams submit cleaner, faster authorizations.

3. Electronic Prior Authorization (ePA)

Manual prior authorization via fax or phone is slow, error-prone, and labor intensive. Electronic prior authorization platforms help automate and accelerate the process—particularly for medication-based authorizations.

For organizations handling complex medication approvals, understanding the nuances of prior authorization for medication is essential to choosing the right tools and workflows.

Benefits of ePA tools:

• Real-time eligibility and benefits verification

• Automated form population from the EHR

• Faster payer response times

• Reduced staff workload

Organizations using ePA consistently report shorter approval timelines and improved staff satisfaction—especially for high-cost biologic therapies. Additional details on PA workflows, denial handling, and authorization requirements are covered in this prior authorization process in medical billing resource.

4. Assign a Dedicated Authorization Team

Prior authorizations are complex, and biologics are among the most challenging. Delegating this work to a rotating or overextended staff member often leads to delays, missed follow-ups, and denials.

Many organizations find that outsourcing or centralizing PA work reduces administrative burden and improves outcomes—particularly when it comes to minimizing escalations like peer-to-peer reviews. In fact, prior authorization outsourcing can significantly reduce peer-to-peer reviews by ensuring submissions are accurate and clinically complete from the start.

Instead:

• Create a specialized PA team focused on infusions and specialty drugs

• Train team members deeply on:

  • Clinical criteria

  • Appeals processes

  • Payer communication strategies

• Track performance metrics such as approval time and denial rates

Specialization improves efficiency, accuracy, and outcomes—particularly for high-volume infusion centers.

5. Proactively Manage Denials and Appeals

Even with best practices in place, denials still happen. What matters most is how quickly and effectively they are addressed.

To minimize delays:

• Analyze denial trends to identify root causes

• Develop standardized appeal letter templates

• Submit appeals within payer-defined timeframes

• Include additional clinical evidence proactively

A proactive denial management strategy not only accelerates approvals but also improves future authorization success rates.

Final Thoughts

Speeding up prior authorization for biologics and infusions isn’t about working harder—it’s about working smarter. By standardizing documentation, understanding payer rules, embracing automation, and investing in specialized or outsourced authorization teams, providers can dramatically reduce delays and improve patient access to life-changing therapies.

The result? Faster treatment starts, less administrative burden, and a better experience for both patients and care teams.

FAQs: Prior Authorization for Biologics and Infusion Therapies

Why do biologics and infusion therapies require prior authorization? +

Biologics and infusion therapies are high-cost treatments, and payers use prior authorization to confirm medical necessity, ensure step therapy requirements are met, and control utilization. While necessary from a payer perspective, these requirements often slow down patient access if not managed efficiently.

What are the most common reasons prior authorizations for biologics get delayed? +

Delays most often occur due to missing clinical documentation, lack of proof of failed prior therapies, incorrect diagnosis or procedure codes, or not meeting payer-specific criteria. Incomplete submissions frequently lead to requests for additional information or outright denials.

How long does prior authorization for biologics and infusions usually take? +

Timelines vary by payer and therapy. Electronic prior authorizations may be approved within a few days, while manual submissions can take one to three weeks or longer. Appeals and peer-to-peer reviews can extend the process further if required.

Does electronic prior authorization (ePA) speed up biologic approvals? +

Yes. Electronic prior authorization reduces turnaround time by automating form completion, minimizing documentation errors, and enabling faster payer responses. ePA also improves tracking and follow-up, which is especially valuable for high-cost biologics.

Who should manage prior authorizations for biologics and infusions? +

Prior authorizations are best handled by dedicated authorization or revenue cycle teams trained in payer rules and clinical criteria. This approach reduces the burden on clinical staff and improves approval accuracy and consistency.

What documentation is required for a strong biologic prior authorization? +

A complete submission typically includes the patient diagnosis, ICD-10 codes, detailed clinical notes, history of previously tried and failed therapies, relevant labs or imaging, and the requested drug, dose, frequency, and site of care.

How can infusion centers reduce denials and peer-to-peer reviews? +

Denials and peer-to-peer reviews can be reduced by submitting complete documentation upfront, staying current with payer policy changes, standardizing workflows, and tracking denial trends to address root causes proactively.

Is outsourcing prior authorization a good option for biologics? +

Many infusion centers and specialty practices benefit from outsourcing prior authorization. Outsourcing can improve turnaround times, reduce denials, lower administrative burden, and allow internal teams to focus more on patient care.

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Request for Information

Delays in prior authorization for biologics and infusion therapies can disrupt treatment schedules and increase administrative burden. Complete the form below to request information on authorization workflows, documentation requirements, payer review practices, and strategies that support faster approvals and fewer denials for infusion and specialty drug services.