pre-authorization

noun

pre-au·​tho·​ri·​za·​tion ˌprē-ˌȯ-th(ə-)rə-ˈzā-shən How to pronounce pre-authorization (audio)
variants or preauthorization
: prior authorization
pre-authorization of credit card purchases
especially : authorization (as by an insurer) that is required prior to performance of a health-care service (such as a surgery or prescription of a drug)
Hospital leaders expect the new managed care companies to demand pre-authorization for many treatments, which could lead to fewer reimbursements and more hospital staff time devoted to hashing out billing differences. Tony Leys
Preauthorization requires doctors, like me, to spend time we do not have dealing with insurance companies to get the medicine our patients so desperately need. Chinazo Cunningham
pre-authorize transitive verb
or preauthorize

Examples of pre-authorization in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web Zoom out: The Biden administration and some lawmakers have ramped up scrutiny of Medicare Advantage plans over the past couple years following reports of predatory marketing schemes, overuse of pre-authorization requirements and data suggesting the plans are overpaid. Maya Goldman, Axios, 30 July 2024 Chug the rocket fuel that Starbucks calls cold brew and lock in. 10 a.m. — Send out a pre-authorization form to the wedding venue for our wedding tasting dinner. R29 Team, refinery29.com, 26 July 2024 This will result in inferior coverage with many pre-authorizations prior to getting treatment. Voice Of The People, New York Daily News, 23 July 2024 Some plans may require pre-authorization from your healthcare provider, such as a prescription. Erica Jackson Curran, Parents, 15 July 2024 Nearly three years ago, a federal court ruled that the FDA was violating the Tobacco Control Act by allowing e-cigarette products that did not have FDA pre-authorization to stay on the market. Jen Christensen, CNN, 12 June 2024 On the minus side, though, the obesity drugs are expensive and often require doctors to fill out burdensome pre-authorization forms for insurance. Gina Kolata, New York Times, 24 Mar. 2024 Staying in-network and getting pre-authorizations when needed could save you a lot of money. Elizabeth Davis, Verywell Health, 27 Feb. 2024 Similarly, if a plan has fewer pre-authorizations or if pre-authorizations are cleared up faster than in other plans, consumers don’t get to learn about those facts either. John C. Goodman, Forbes, 20 Feb. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'pre-authorization.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of pre-authorization was in 1949

Dictionary Entries Near pre-authorization

Cite this Entry

“Pre-authorization.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/pre-authorization. Accessed 18 Aug. 2024.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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