Surescripts, Oracle Health partner on prior authorization tool

Arlington, Va. - Health technology companies Surescripts and Oracle Health have announced a strategic partnership aimed at streamlining the prior authorization process for prescription medications. The integration of Surescripts' Prior Authorization Automation tool into Oracle Health's existing workflow is set for general availability in 2027.

The automated system matches a patient's clinical data with determination criteria during the prescription process, retrieving necessary information from the electronic health record and transmitting it directly to the pharmacy benefit manager. With all criteria met, the system can approve prior authorizations in just 18 seconds, eliminating the need for human intervention and generating an audit trail for review purposes.

Surescripts CEO Frank Harvey emphasized the significant impact this technology can have on patient care, noting that a 2025 survey found 95% of physicians reported that prior authorization sometimes delays care, while 79% said it can lead to treatment abandonment. One in four individuals indicated that medication costs prevented them from filling prescriptions, as reported in a referenced study.

Beyond the core functionality, Surescripts and Oracle Health will also explore incorporating the First-Fill Abandonment feature into Oracle Health workflows. This feature monitors new prescriptions across the Surescripts network and identifies when patients fail to pick them up at the pharmacy. The Surescripts network provides prescribing and care activity data for nearly every patient in the United States.

This collaboration comes as the prior authorization process continues to pose challenges for patients and healthcare providers alike, with time delays potentially jeopardizing timely treatment. By leveraging advanced automation and data integration, Surescripts and Oracle Health aim to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of prescription authorization, ultimately improving patient outcomes and reducing medication abandonment.