New Surescripts Survey Results: More Than Half of Patients Hit Roadblocks Accessing Their Prescriptions

National patient survey finds cost confusion, prior authorization delays can derail care, but technology can unlock price transparency, improve access

ARLINGTON, Va.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Surescripts®, the nation’s leading health intelligence network, released a new report with the results of a national survey of 1,007 U.S. adults conducted by The Harris Poll, revealing that more than half (56%) of patients experience challenges when accessing prescriptions, citing cost, delays and prior authorizations as significant barriers.

Notably, 36% of patients indicated that getting clearer cost information before picking up a prescription would make navigating prescription costs easier.

Report: How Patient Access Technology Can Simplify the Patient Care Journey

"Patient access to prescription therapies is much harder than it should be—and too often that means going without medication therapies," said Frank Harvey, Chief Executive Officer for Surescripts. "The encouraging news is that patients want to work with their prescribers to understand their medication treatment options before arriving at the pharmacy. We’re working to equip care providers with technology that enables them to help patients access more affordable medications without unnecessary delays.”

“This survey reveals what we’ve known anecdotally: the path from prescription to therapy is too often slowed by unclear costs, fragmented support and disconnected systems—with real consequences for patients' health,” said Matt Koehler, Chief Product Officer for Surescripts. "When clinicians are equipped with the right technology, they can help patients access treatment faster, close gaps and keep patient care on track.”

Survey Data Highlights:

• Most patients have trouble filling prescriptions: nearly half (48%) say they don't know who or what to trust for accurate information about prescription medications and pricing.
• Cost is keeping patients from care: one in four patients say they haven't picked up a prescription because it was too expensive, and one in five have split pills or rationed their medications to make them last longer.
• Prior authorization delays are harming health: among patients who filled a prescription in the past year, 29% experienced prior authorization delays—rising to 36% for those taking two or more medications a day and 13% say their health actually worsened as a result.
• Technology could improve patient prescription access: 36% say clearer cost information before picking up a prescription would make navigating costs easier, and an equal share want better communication between their provider and pharmacy.

Surescripts technology is improving patient prescription access, according to a recent report:

• Prior Authorization Automation automatically matches clinical data with determination criteria at the time of prescribing, resulting in 18-second (median) approvals when all criteria are met.
• Real-Time Prescription Benefit provides prescription price transparency for prescribers at the point of care, and when used to find a lower-cost alternative, patients saved an average of $77 per prescription and $817 per specialty prescription.
• Electronic Benefit Verification helps patient assistance programs verify pharmacy benefit coverage and out-of-pocket costs.

Background

Surescripts partnered with The Harris Poll to conduct an online survey, in English and Spanish, of 1,007 U.S. patients between November 21 and December 1, 2025. Participants were U.S. residents aged 18 or older who had interacted with the U.S. healthcare system in the past 12 months. Results are accurate to within ± 4.0 percentage points at a 95% confidence level.

About Surescripts

Surescripts is the nation’s leading health intelligence network that brings healthcare together to inform and accelerate decisions that help keep patient care on track. With the Surescripts Network Alliance®, we’re empowering the healthcare ecosystem with intelligence and interoperability for smarter, faster prescribing, prior authorization, treatment, care management and more, in order to increase patient safety, lower costs and ensure quality care.