What You Should Know About Prior Authorization Approval Rates

A rule from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services means Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan must share more details about how prior authorization works.

What is prior authorization?

It's a step we sometimes require before you get a medical service. The goal is to make sure that the service is necessary and appropriate.

Why do we use it?

It helps us make sure you receive the right care, especially in high-risk situations or treatments that can cause serious side effects. 

Beyond safety, this process stops fraud, waste and abuse, which helps keep monthly premiums as affordable as possible for everyone. 

If you need to know which medical tests and services, excluding drugs, require prior authorization, we have a list of medical services requiring prior authorization.

Why are we sharing these rates?

We're sharing these approval rates to help make everything fair and more clear for you, the member. This information should help you better understand how our prior authorization process works.

This reporting period covers 2025.

Medicare plan prior authorization rates

Medicare Plus Blue PPO prior authorization rates

Non-urgent request rates

This is the most common type of request. Since it's not urgent, it can take up to 14 days for us to make a decision. For a non-urgent appeal, it can take up to 30 days for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

766,938

Total

800,694

Percentage of total

95.78%

Denied

Reviewed

33,752

Total

800,694

Percentage of total

4.22%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

4

Total

800,694

Percentage of total

0%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

1,929

Total

2,185

Percentage of total

88%

Urgent request rates

Your doctor files this type of request when you need a certain service as soon as possible, but it’s not an emergency. It can take up to 72 hours for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

1,501

Total

1,751

Percentage of total

85.72%

Denied

Reviewed

250

Total

1,751

Percentage of total

14.28%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

0

Total

1,751

Percentage of total

0%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

2,491

Total

2,717

Percentage of total

92%

Medicare Plus Blue PPO plan response times

These are the response times that elapsed between the submission of a request and a determination by the payer.

Non-urgent requests (due to provider within 14 days)

Average time

0.72 days

Median time

0 days

Urgent requests (due to provider within 72 hours)

Average time

12.67 hours

Median time

0.94 days

BCN Advantage prior authorization rates

Non-urgent request rates

This is the most common type of request. Since it's not urgent, it can take up to 14 days for us to make a decision. For a non-urgent appeal, it can take up to 30 days for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

167,837

Total

175,680

Percentage of total

95.54%

Denied

Reviewed

7,841

Total

175,680

Percentage of total

4.46%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

2

Total

175,680

Percentage of total

0%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

543

Total

594

Percentage of total

91%

Urgent request rates

Your doctor files this type of request when you need a certain service as soon as possible, but it’s not an emergency. It can take up to 72 hours for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

236

Total

278

Percentage of total

84.89%

Denied

Reviewed

42

Total

278

Percentage of total

15.11%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

0

Total

278

Percentage of total

0%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

357

Total

376

Percentage of total

95%

BCN Advantage plan response times

These are the response times that elapsed between the submission of a request and a determination by the payer.

Non-urgent requests (due to provider within 14 days)

Average time

0.53 days

Median time

0 days

Urgent requests (due to provider within 72 hours)

Average time

25.8 hours

Median time

1.17 days

Individual plan prior authorization rates

PPO plan prior authorization rates

Non-urgent request rates

This is the most common type of request. Since it's not urgent, it can take up to 15 days for us to make a decision. For a non-urgent appeal, it can take up to 30 days for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

29.453

Total

31,549

Percentage of total

93.36%

Denied

Reviewed

2,001

Total

31,549

Percentage of total

6.34%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

95

Total

31,549

Percentage of total

0.30%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

5

Total

24

Percentage of total

21%

Urgent request rates

Your doctor files this type of request when you need a certain service as soon as possible, but it’s not an emergency. It can take up to 72 hours for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

964

Total

1,008

Percentage of total

95.63%

Denied

Reviewed

44

Total

1,008

Percentage of total

4.37%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

0

Total

1,008

Percentage of total

0%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

14

Total

23

Percentage of total

61%

PPO plan response times

These are the response times that elapsed between the submission of a request and a determination by the payer.

Non-urgent requests (due to provider within 15 days)

Average time

0.61 days

Median time

0 days

Urgent requests (due to provider within 72 hours)

Average time

9.58 hours

Median time

0 days

HMO plan prior authorization rates

Non-urgent request rates

This is the most common type of request. Since it's not urgent, it can take up to 15 days for us to make a decision. For a non-urgent appeal, it can take up to 30 days for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

49,654

Total

53,252

Percentage of total

93.24%

Denied

Reviewed

3,501

Total

53,252

Percentage of total

6.57%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

97

Total

53,252

Percentage of total

0.18%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

32

Total

50

Percentage of total

64%

Urgent request rates

Your doctor files this type of request when you need a certain service as soon as possible, but it’s not an emergency. It can take up to 72 hours for a decision.

Approved

Reviewed

1,025

Total

1,079

Percentage of total

95.00%

Denied

Reviewed

54

Total

1,079

Percentage of total

5.00%

Approved after extended review

Reviewed

0

Total

1,079

Percentage of total

0%

Approved after an appeal

Reviewed

12

Total

14

Percentage of total

86%

HMO plan response times

These are the response times that elapsed between the submission of a request and a determination by the payer.

Non-urgent requests (due to provider within 15 days)

Average time

0.58 days

Median time

0 days

Urgent requests (due to provider within 72 hours)

Average time

7.36 hours

Median time

0 days

Questions?

Privacy issues: To report a concern or if you think your protected health information has been compromised, please call us at 1-800-552-8278 or email us. Don't include any protected health information in your email. 

Other issues: For customer service, call the number on the back of your member ID card.

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