Rising Drug Prices Shift Administrative Burden to Doctors, Survey Shows

While drug affordability is usually viewed as a patient‑only concern, the reality is that when medications prove too costly, doctors and their clinic staff frequently end up handling the fallout.

A 2026 Physician Drug Cost Survey released by RazorMetrics—a firm that builds tools for pharmacy cost containment—investigated how rising prescription prices influence physicians’ workflows, including interruptions, patient inquiries, medication switches, and prior‑authorization demands.

The survey gathered responses from 104 U.S. physicians between June and August 2026. When drug prices remain a financial strain for many patients, clinicians absorb extra administrative tasks. Eighty‑four percent of practices said they field at least five patient calls each week about prescription costs, and a striking 96% of physicians reported that a patient had discontinued a medication because of expense without informing them.

Forty‑two percent of respondents noted handling more than thirty prior‑authorization requests weekly, while seventy‑two percent devote at least five hours each week to securing those approvals. Additionally, fifty‑three percent spend three or more hours on step‑therapy compliance, and roughly two‑thirds said they invest at least five hours per week managing prescription‑cost issues after a prescription has been written.

Physicians showed strong openness to cost‑containment measures: ninety‑five percent said they would switch patients to a lower‑cost, clinically appropriate alternative, and fifty‑eight percent already routinely extend those savings to other patients prescribed the same drug.

The hurdle lies in delivering cost‑containment tools without creating extra administrative work. Nearly half of the respondents indicated that reducing workflow interruptions from pharmacy benefit managers and payers would enhance the usefulness of such outreach. The survey notes:

“Physicians consistently say they need fewer workflow interruptions and clear patient‑benefit data that show how much a lower‑cost alternative could save their patients.”

The physician survey builds on RazorMetrics’ 2026 State of Drug Access Survey, which explored patient experiences with prescription costs. In that patient survey, 42.6% reported receiving a prescription they could not afford to fill in the past year, and 75% of insured consumers experienced sticker shock for drugs priced under $250.

A May 2026 American Medical Association poll found that only 33% of physicians believe recent prior‑authorization reforms will substantially lessen administrative burden, care delays, or patient harm.

Addressing drug costs is closely linked to everyday clinical workflows, and solutions that account for administrative load across prior authorizations, approvals, and step‑therapy requirements are likely to influence prescribing behavior more effectively.

The survey indicates that physicians’ willingness to tackle affordability is not the barrier; instead, the timing and delivery of cost‑containment initiatives are crucial. Overall, clinicians are receptive to switching patients to lower‑cost, clinically appropriate options, and workflows that lessen cognitive load while providing patient‑specific insights could improve cost outcomes.

RazorMetrics cautions that the survey was voluntary and incentivized, so it reflects a self‑selected snapshot of physician experiences rather than a random sample.

Photo: cagkansayin, Getty Images

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