Dr. Brian Waterman calls for change in prior authorization

Posted on: May 5th, 2026 by Our Team

A recent feature in Becker’s Spine Review examined what remains broken in musculoskeletal care, emphasizing that the issue is not a lack of innovation, but systemic inefficiencies that continue to impact patient outcomes.

Orthopedic leaders pointed to persistent barriers such as prior authorization delays, fragmented care pathways, and misaligned incentives. These challenges often slow access to treatment, increase administrative burden, and ultimately affect the quality and timeliness of care delivered to patients.

The discussion reinforces a broader shift within orthopedics toward improving how care is delivered across the entire patient journey, not just during surgery. There is growing consensus that better coordination, streamlined decision-making, and outcome-focused care models are essential to advancing the field.

For surgeons like Dr. Waterman, these insights align with ongoing efforts to refine treatment pathways, reduce inefficiencies, and improve patient-centered outcomes in musculoskeletal care.