Humana and athenahealth team up to streamline prior authorizations nationwide

Humana and athenahealth team up to streamline prior authorizations nationwide

Prior authorization has long been a headache for providers and patients alike — but Humana and athenahealth are taking a big swing at fixing it. The two companies announced a nationwide expansion of electronic prior authorizations (ePA) through athenaPayer, linking Humana directly with more than 180,000 providers on the athenaOne network. The vision: one common workflow that replaces the maze of phone calls, faxes, and portal logins that currently bog down care teams.

The collaboration is part of Humana's broader push to reduce unnecessary prior auth requirements and simplify the process when it is needed — a strategy that aligns with a June 2025 industry-wide pledge by major insurers to reform prior authorization practices.

By the Numbers:

• 6,000+ providers processed nearly 35,000 ePAs with Humana in September alone
• 70%+ of those authorizations were completed without requiring additional information from staff

Why it matters: Administrative burden from prior authorization is a leading driver of physician burnout and care delays. By standardizing and automating the process at scale, this collaboration could meaningfully reduce friction for providers — and get patients the care they need faster.