Prior Authorization Management
MM
Dr. Murdock
Good morning, Dr. Murdock Mountain View Dialysis Center — Thursday, July 9, 2026
Pending Review
3
Awaiting payer response
Approved (7 days)
12
+3 vs. prior week
Denied / Actionable
1
Appeal recommended
Avg Turnaround
2.4 hrs
Last 30 days
New Authorization
Start PA request
File Appeal
1 denial pending
Check Formulary
Drug lookup & PA rules
View Reports
Analytics & metrics
Recent Authorizations
PA # Patient Medication Status Submitted
PA-2026-0412 Maria Gonzalez Aranesp 60 mcg In Progress Jul 9, 2026
PA-2026-0411 Robert Chen Velphoro 500 mg Approved Jul 8, 2026
PA-2026-0410 James Wilson Parsabiv 5 mg Approved Jul 8, 2026
PA-2026-0409 Angela Martinez Epogen 10,000 units Pending Jul 7, 2026
PA-2026-0408 David Thompson Sensipar 30 mg Denied Jul 7, 2026
PA-2026-0407 Lisa Patel Aranesp 40 mcg Approved Jul 6, 2026
Clinical Intelligence
Recommendation
Attach iron studies (ferritin + TSAT) for all ESA requests submitted to Aetna Medicare Advantage plans. Recent denials cite missing data.
Policy Change
UHC updated Parsabiv PA criteria effective July 1. iPTH threshold changed from >600 to >500 pg/mL. 2 pending cases may benefit.
Performance
Your approval rate this month: 91%. Facility average: 84%. Attach clinical notes early for faster turnaround.

New Prior Authorization

Complete all steps to submit a prior authorization request

1 Patient
2 Medication
3 Clinical Evidence
4 Regulatory Intelligence
5 Medical Necessity
6 Review & Submit
Approval Likelihood: 42%
Patient Selection
Showing match from patient roster
Patient Name
Maria Gonzalez
DOB / Age / Sex
03/14/1962 — 64F
MRN
DV-2847391
Primary Diagnosis
ESRD (N18.6) + Anemia of CKD (D63.1)
Dialysis Schedule
Hemodialysis 3x/week (MWF) — 18 months
Facility
Mountain View DaVita Dialysis Center
Insurance
Aetna Medicare Advantage
Member ID
H5521-034
Prior Auth #
PA-2026-DV-8847
Medication & Indication
Anemia in chronic kidney disease
Decision Support
Based on patient labs (Hgb 9.2 g/dL, eGFR <10, TSAT 22%), Aranesp 60 mcg IV Q2W is within KDIGO 2024 guidelines for ESRD anemia. Patient on hemodialysis 18 months with completed IV iron course. No prior ESA in last 6 months — no step-therapy barrier detected.
Guideline match:
92%
Laboratory Results Auto-populated from EHR — Last updated Jun 28, 2026
Test Result Reference Range Status Date
Hemoglobin (Hgb) 9.2 g/dL 12.0 – 16.0 g/dL Low Jun 28, 2026
eGFR <10 mL/min/1.73m² >60 mL/min/1.73m² Low (ESRD) Jun 28, 2026
Ferritin 285 ng/mL 20 – 500 ng/mL Adequate Jun 28, 2026
TSAT 22% 20 – 50% Adequate Jul 1, 2026
Reticulocyte Count 1.1% 0.5 – 2.5% Normal Jun 28, 2026
Serum Iron 62 µg/dL 60 – 170 µg/dL Normal Jun 28, 2026
Prior Treatment History
Medication Dose Duration Response
Iron sucrose (Venofer) 200 mg IV per HD session x5 2 weeks (May 19 – Jun 2, 2026) Completed — iron replete
ESA therapy (any) N/A None in last 6 months No prior ESA — de novo
IV iron course (Venofer) completed 6 weeks ago. Hgb remains 9.2 g/dL despite iron repletion (TSAT 22%, Ferritin 285). No prior ESA in last 6 months — de novo Aranesp initiation is appropriate per KDIGO 2024 for ESRD anemia.
Supporting Documents
Drag files here or browse
PDF, images, or documents up to 10MB each
Lab_Results_Gonzalez_070126.pdf 124 KB
Epogen_Treatment_Summary.pdf 89 KB

Watson Regulatory Intelligence Engine

Scanning 12,000+ policy documents in real-time...
Live Policy Scan
CMS Medicare Coverage Database
Found 14 relevant criteria
KDIGO 2024 Clinical Practice Guidelines
Found 8 applicable recommendations
Aetna Medicare Advantage Policy Bulletin 0455
Found 6 coverage requirements
UHC Medicare Advantage LCD L38672
Found 5 coverage requirements
Policy Comparison Matrix
Criteria Aetna MA UHC MA Humana MA
Hgb threshold for initiation < 10 g/dL ✓ < 10 g/dL ✓ < 10 g/dL ✓
Iron adequacy required TSAT >20%, Ferritin >200 ✓ TSAT >20%, Ferritin >100 ✓ TSAT >20% ✓
Step therapy (prior ESA) Not required for ESRD ✓ Not required for ESRD ✓ 8-week trial required ⚠
Dialysis documentation Required ✓ Required ✓ Required ✓
Physician attestation Required ⚠ Required ⚠ Required ⚠
Criteria Met for This Patient
Hgb 9.2 g/dL — below 10 g/dL threshold (Aetna, UHC, Humana)
TSAT 22%, Ferritin 285 ng/mL — iron replete per all payer criteria
ESRD confirmed — on hemodialysis 3x/week × 18 months
Step therapy not required for ESRD patients (Aetna & UHC)
Physician attestation form required — will be included in submission
Evidence Package Assembled
Watson has compiled a complete evidence package: 33 policy criteria reviewed, 32 met, 1 action required (physician attestation). Approval likelihood: 94%
Approval likelihood:
94%
Clinical Justification
KDIGO Guideline Criteria
Approval Prediction
Based on payer rules for Aetna Medicare Advantage and provided clinical evidence, this request has a high likelihood of approval. All ESRD-specific criteria are met per Watson Regulatory Intelligence scan.
Approval likelihood:
94%
Authorization Summary
Patient
Maria Gonzalez (67F)
MRN
DV-2847391
Insurance
Aetna Medicare Advantage
Medication
Aranesp 60 mcg SC weekly
Diagnosis
D63.1 — Anemia in CKD
Requesting Provider
Dr. Mark Murdock, MD
Payer Requirements Checklist
Patient diagnosis confirmed (CKD Stage 4 with anemia)
Step therapy: Epoetin alfa trial ≥8 weeks documented
Iron adequacy confirmed (Ferritin >100, TSAT >20%)
Lab results within 30 days attached
Clinical justification statement included
Prescribing physician NPI verified (1234567890)
Pre-Submission Validation
All required fields complete. Documentation meets Aetna Medicare Advantage criteria for ESA prior authorization. No issues detected.
Readiness score:
100%
Approval Likelihood
42%
Gathering patient data...
Powered by IBM Watson

My Authorizations

Track and manage all prior authorization requests

All7
In Progress1
Pending2
Approved3
Denied1
PA # Patient Medication Payer Status Submitted Last Updated Actions
PA-2026-0412 Maria Gonzalez Aranesp 60 mcg Aetna Medicare Adv. In Progress Jul 9, 2026 Jul 9, 2026
PA-2026-0411 Robert Chen Velphoro 500 mg UnitedHealthcare Approved Jul 8, 2026 Jul 8, 2026
PA-2026-0410 James Wilson Parsabiv 5 mg Cigna Approved Jul 8, 2026 Jul 8, 2026
PA-2026-0409 Angela Martinez Epogen 10,000 units Aetna Medicare Adv. Pending Review Jul 7, 2026 Jul 8, 2026
PA-2026-0408 David Thompson Sensipar 30 mg Humana Gold Denied Jul 7, 2026 Jul 9, 2026
PA-2026-0407 Lisa Patel Aranesp 40 mcg Blue Cross CA Approved Jul 6, 2026 Jul 7, 2026
PA-2026-0405 William Foster Mircera 100 mcg UnitedHealthcare Pending Review Jul 5, 2026 Jul 7, 2026
Showing 7 of 42 authorizations

Appeals Management

Manage denied authorizations and submit appeals to payers

Action Required1
Submitted2
Resolved5
Denied PA-2026-0408 — David Thompson — Sensipar 30 mg
Patient
David Thompson (71M)
Payer
Humana Gold
Denial Date
Jul 9, 2026
Denial Reason
iPTH level does not meet threshold (reported: 580 pg/mL, required: >600 pg/mL)
Appeal Deadline
Aug 8, 2026 (30 days)
Prescribing Physician
Dr. Mark Murdock, MD
Appeal Strategy
Humana's threshold was >600 pg/mL at time of submission. However, UHC and other payers have lowered to >500 pg/mL based on updated KDOQI guidelines. Consider: (1) Submit peer-reviewed literature supporting treatment at iPTH >500, (2) Cite KDOQI 2024 update, (3) Request peer-to-peer review with Medical Director. Historical success rate for similar appeals: 72%.
Case Timeline
Jul 9, 2026 — 8:42 AM
Authorization Denied
Humana Gold denied PA citing iPTH level below required threshold. Denial code: MED-NEC-042.
Jul 7, 2026 — 2:15 PM
Submitted to Payer
PA submitted electronically to Humana Gold. Reference: HUM-PA-2026-88421.
Jul 7, 2026 — 1:58 PM
Authorization Created
Dr. Murdock initiated PA for Sensipar 30 mg for secondary hyperparathyroidism (iPTH 580 pg/mL).
Recent Appeal Outcomes
PA # Patient Medication Original Denial Outcome Resolution Date
PA-2026-0392 Thomas Reed Aranesp 100 mcg Missing iron studies Overturned Jun 28, 2026
PA-2026-0378 Nancy Kim Parsabiv 10 mg Step therapy required Overturned Jun 19, 2026
PA-2026-0364 Robert Adams Mircera 150 mcg Dose exceeds limit Upheld Jun 12, 2026

Patient Roster

Manage patients assigned to your care at Mountain View Dialysis Center

Active Patients (24)
MRN Patient Name Age/Sex Primary Dx Dialysis Insurance Active PAs
DV-2847391 Maria Gonzalez 67F CKD Stage 4 (N18.4) HD 3x/wk Aetna Medicare Adv. 1
DV-2024-0831 Robert Chen 72M CKD Stage 5 (N18.5) HD 3x/wk UnitedHealthcare 1
DV-2024-0819 James Wilson 58M CKD Stage 4 (N18.4) HD 3x/wk Cigna 0
DV-2024-0804 Angela Martinez 64F CKD Stage 5 (N18.5) HD 3x/wk Aetna Medicare Adv. 1
DV-2024-0798 David Thompson 71M CKD Stage 4 (N18.4) PD daily Humana Gold 1
DV-2024-0785 Lisa Patel 55F CKD Stage 3b (N18.3) HD 3x/wk Blue Cross CA 0
DV-2024-0772 William Foster 69M CKD Stage 5 (N18.5) HD 3x/wk UnitedHealthcare 1
DV-2024-0760 Patricia Brown 74F CKD Stage 4 (N18.4) HD 3x/wk Medicare FFS 0

Formulary Lookup

Search DaVita-approved medications and check PA requirements by payer

Aranesp (darbepoetin alfa)
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA)
NDC: 55513-0006-01 Tier 3 — Specialty Injectable
PA Required Step Therapy Quantity Limit
Payer Notes
Aetna: Requires 8-week Epoetin trial. UHC: Requires Hgb <10 + adequate iron. Cigna: Quantity limit 4 syringes/28 days.
Epogen (epoetin alfa)
Erythropoiesis-Stimulating Agent (ESA)
NDC: 55513-0126-10 Tier 2 — Preferred Brand Injectable
PA Required Quantity Limit
Mircera (methoxy polyethylene glycol-epoetin beta)
Continuous Erythropoietin Receptor Activator (CERA)
NDC: 00004-0188-09 Tier 3 — Specialty Injectable
PA Required Step Therapy Specialty Pharmacy
Velphoro (sucroferric oxyhydroxide)
Phosphate Binder
NDC: 58468-0220-01 Tier 2 — Preferred Brand Oral tablet (chewable)
Formulary
Parsabiv (etelcalcetide)
Calcimimetic Agent
NDC: 55513-0730-01 Tier 3 — Specialty Injectable (IV)
PA Required Step Therapy
Sensipar (cinacalcet)
Calcimimetic Agent — Oral
NDC: 55513-0073-01 Tier 2 — Preferred Brand Oral tablet
PA Required

Clinical Intelligence

Payer policy updates, trend analysis, and decision support recommendations

Approval Rate (30d)
91%
+3% vs. facility avg (84%)
Avg Response Time
2.4 hrs
Facility avg: 4.1 hrs
Submissions (30d)
38
6 this week
Active Recommendations Last updated: Jul 9, 2026 9:15 AM
ESA Documentation Enhancement
Jul 9, 2026
Analysis of 12 recent Aetna denials shows 75% cited missing iron studies. Recommend auto-attaching most recent ferritin and TSAT values to all ESA prior authorization submissions for Aetna plans.
High Impact
Parsabiv Criteria Update — UnitedHealthcare
Jul 7, 2026
UHC updated Parsabiv PA criteria effective July 1, 2026. iPTH threshold lowered from >600 pg/mL to >500 pg/mL. Two pending cases (PA-2026-0405, PA-2026-0401) may now meet criteria for approval. Recommend resubmission.
Policy Change
Step Therapy Optimization
Jul 5, 2026
Patients transitioning from Epogen to Aranesp: documenting exact treatment duration (≥8 weeks) and response metrics in the clinical justification reduces Aetna review time by an average of 1.8 days.
Efficiency
Denial Appeal Success Pattern
Jul 3, 2026
Appeals that include a peer-reviewed citation supporting the medication choice have a 78% overturn rate vs. 34% without. Auto-suggested relevant clinical references are available for all denied PAs.
Appeals
Denial Analysis — Last 30 Days
Denial Reason Count Payer Recommendation
Missing iron studies 4 Aetna Auto-attach ferritin + TSAT to ESA requests
Step therapy not documented 2 UHC, Cigna Include treatment timeline in justification
Labs older than 30 days 1 Humana Flag when labs >21 days old at submission
Dose exceeds guidelines 1 Blue Cross Validate dose against weight-based KDIGO ranges

Reports & Analytics

Authorization performance metrics and operational reporting

Overview
By Payer
By Medication
Turnaround
Total Submitted
42
Last 30 days
Approved
34
81% rate
Denied
5
12% rate
Pending
3
7% of total
Avg Days to Decision
1.2
Target: <2 days
Weekly Authorization Volume
Jun 3 – Jul 9, 2026 (5 weeks)
W1
W2
W3
W4
W5
Approved
Denied
Pending
Performance by Payer
Payer Submitted Approved Denied Approval Rate Avg Turnaround
Aetna Medicare Advantage 14 11 2 79% 2.8 hrs
UnitedHealthcare 12 11 1 92% 1.4 hrs
Cigna 8 7 1 88% 3.2 hrs
Humana Gold 5 3 1 60% 6.1 hrs
Blue Cross CA 3 2 0 67% 4.5 hrs

Regulatory Intelligence

Watson continuously monitors payer policies, CMS guidelines, and clinical literature to keep your authorizations compliant

Policy Sources Monitored
247
Across 18 payers
Guidelines Indexed
1,842
KDIGO, KDOQI, CMS, FDA
Policy Changes (30d)
14
3 affect your patients
Compliance Score
96%
Above facility target (90%)
Evidence Compilation Engine● Live — Monitoring Active

Watson aggregates and cross-references regulatory data in real-time. Below are the active evidence sources for your facility's most common medications.

Clinical Guidelines
KDIGO 2024 Anemia Guidelines
KDOQI 2024 Commentary Update
CMS National Coverage Determination
FDA Label — Aranesp (Rev. 2025)
ASN Clinical Practice Guidelines
Last synced: Jul 9, 2026 08:00 AM
Payer Policies
Aetna Medicare Adv. — ESA Policy
UHC Commercial — Parsabiv Criteria
Humana — Calcimimetic Requirements
Cigna — Nephrology Step Therapy
BCBS — Dialysis Medication Formulary
Last synced: Jul 9, 2026 06:30 AM
Clinical Literature
NEJM — ESA Dosing in CKD (2025)
JASN — Darbepoetin Outcomes Study
Kidney International — TREAT Analysis
Am J Kidney Dis — Iron Supplementation
Blood — ESA Hyporesponsiveness Review
Last indexed: Jul 8, 2026 11:45 PM
Payer Policy Matrix — ESA Medications
RequirementAetna MedicareUnitedHealthcareHumanaCigna
Hgb Threshold for Initiation<10 g/dL<10 g/dL<9.5 g/dL<10 g/dL
Iron Studies RequiredFerritin + TSATFerritin onlyFerritin + TSATFerritin + TSAT + Iron
Step TherapyEpoetin alfa ≥8 wksEpoetin alfa ≥12 wksNone requiredEpoetin alfa ≥8 wks
Lab RecencyWithin 30 daysWithin 30 daysWithin 14 daysWithin 30 days
Max Initial Dose (Aranesp)0.75 mcg/kg/wk60 mcg/wk0.75 mcg/kg/wk60 mcg/wk
Hgb Target Ceiling11.5 g/dL11 g/dL11.5 g/dL12 g/dL
Reauthorization Period6 months3 months6 months12 months
Regulatory Timeline — Recent Policy Changes
July 1, 2026
UHC Parsabiv Criteria Update
iPTH threshold lowered from >600 to >500 pg/mL. Broadens eligibility for 2 of your current patients.
Action: Resubmit PA-2026-0405
June 15, 2026
CMS Final Rule — ESRD Bundled Payment Update
New calcimimetic add-on payment adjustment effective Q4 2026. Parsabiv reimbursement methodology revised.
Informational — No immediate action
June 3, 2026
Aetna Medicare — ESA Documentation Simplification
Aetna now accepts hemoglobin trending data (3 consecutive values) in lieu of detailed narrative for ESA renewals. Watson auto-generates trending reports.
Auto-applied to new submissions
May 20, 2026
KDOQI 2026 Commentary — Anemia Management
Updated position on ESA hyporesponsiveness: recommends evaluation of iron status every 4 weeks during initial ESA therapy (previously 8 weeks).
Guideline updated in Watson
Compliance Scoring — Your Active Cases
Case IDPatientMedicationPayerCompliance ScoreGaps
PA-2026-0412Maria GonzalezAranesp 60 mcgAetna Medicare100%None — fully compliant
PA-2026-0410Robert ChenParsabiv 5 mgUHC Commercial100%None — meets new iPTH criteria
PA-2026-0409Patricia OwensAranesp 100 mcgHumana82%Labs >14 days old (Humana requires ≤14d)
PA-2026-0405James WilliamsParsabiv 10 mgUHC Commercial95%Resubmit — now meets updated criteria

Platform Guide

Everything you need to know to navigate the AskRX authorization platform

Getting StartedEstimated read time: 5 min

AskRX is an AI-assisted prior authorization management platform designed for DaVita nephrologists. Watson handles evidence compilation, policy matching, and compliance checking — you focus on patient care.

1
Submit a Request
Use the 6-step New Authorization wizard to enter patient data, select medication, and provide clinical justification.
2
Watson Reviews & Compiles
Watson cross-references payer policies, clinical guidelines (KDIGO/KDOQI), and your patient's history to build the strongest case.
3
Track & Manage
Monitor status in My Authorizations, respond to information requests, and file appeals with Watson-generated evidence packages.
Section-by-Section Guide
Dashboard
Your home screen. Shows authorization volume at a glance — pending, in-review, approved, denied. Quick actions let you start a new auth, check appeals, or look up formulary in one click. Watson Insights panel highlights urgent items.
New Authorization
A 6-step guided wizard:
Step 1 — Patient Selection: Search by name or MRN. Watson pre-fills demographics and insurance.
Step 2 — Medication & Indication: Select medication, dose, frequency. Watson shows payer-specific requirements.
Step 3 — Clinical Evidence: Upload labs, document prior therapies. Watson auto-generates medical necessity narrative.
Step 4 — Regulatory Intelligence: Watson scans 12,000+ policy documents in real-time, builds a Policy Comparison Matrix across payers, and assembles a complete evidence package with approval likelihood score.
Step 5 — Medical Necessity: Review Watson's compiled justification. Compliance checklist shows criteria met vs. gaps.
Step 6 — Review & Submit: Final review. Watson runs pre-submission validation. Submit electronically to payer.
My Authorizations
View and manage all submitted authorizations. Filter by status (Pending, Approved, Denied, In Review). Click any row for full details, payer communication, and timeline.
Appeals
Manage denied authorization appeals. Watson provides strategy recommendations based on denial reason analysis, peer-reviewed citations, and historical success rates. Includes peer-to-peer review scheduling.
Regulatory Intelligence
Watson's evidence engine — monitored policy sources, payer requirement comparisons, regulatory timeline, and per-case compliance scoring. This is where Watson shows the work it does behind the scenes to build your strongest case.
Reports & Analytics
Authorization performance metrics — approval rates, turnaround times, payer-specific performance, denial trends. Export for facility administration or DaVita corporate compliance.
Profile & Settings
Your credentials (NPI, DEA, license), notification preferences, and activity history. Prescriber info auto-populates into new authorization forms.
Tips & Keyboard Shortcuts
Keyboard Shortcuts
Global SearchCtrl + K
New AuthorizationCtrl + N
DashboardCtrl + D
Toggle NotificationsCtrl + .
Pro Tips
• Watson auto-fills clinical justification from patient labs — review and adjust rather than writing from scratch.
• Submit authorizations before 2 PM local time for same-day payer processing.
• Check Regulatory Intelligence before starting a new auth to see current payer requirements — reduces rework.
• Set notification preferences in Profile to get alerts only for statuses you care about.
Frequently Asked Questions
How does Watson compile evidence for my authorization?
Watson cross-references your patient's clinical data (labs, diagnoses, treatment history) against the specific payer's coverage criteria, relevant KDIGO/KDOQI guidelines, and supporting clinical literature. It identifies gaps and auto-generates a medical necessity narrative tailored to the payer's requirements.
Can I edit Watson's auto-generated content?
Yes — all Watson-generated content (clinical justification, evidence summaries, appeal language) is fully editable. Watson provides a starting point; you have final approval over everything submitted.
What happens when a payer updates their policy?
Watson monitors payer policy databases continuously. Changes appear on the Regulatory Intelligence timeline and in Dashboard notifications. If the change affects pending authorizations, Watson flags those cases with specific action recommendations.
Is patient data shared with Watson's cloud services?
No. AskRX processes all patient data within DaVita's HIPAA-compliant infrastructure. Watson's policy and guideline databases are synchronized locally. No PHI leaves the DaVita network boundary.

Profile & Settings

Manage your account information and notification preferences

MM
Dr. Mark Murdock, MD
Nephrologist
NPI
1234567890
DEA
AM1234567
Role
Attending Physician
License State
California (CA)
Facility
Mountain View Dialysis Center
Member Since
January 2024
Contact Information
Notification Preferences
Delegate Access
Staff members authorized to submit PAs on your behalf:
Name Role Permissions Status
Sarah Mitchell, RN Dialysis Nurse Submit, Edit Active
Jennifer Lee PA Coordinator Submit, Edit, Appeal Active
Recent Activity
Date Action Details
Jul 9, 2026 PA Submitted PA-2026-0412 — Aranesp for Maria Gonzalez
Jul 8, 2026 PA Approved PA-2026-0411 — Velphoro for Robert Chen
Jul 8, 2026 PA Approved PA-2026-0410 — Parsabiv for James Wilson
Jul 7, 2026 PA Submitted PA-2026-0409 — Epogen for Angela Martinez
Jul 7, 2026 PA Denied PA-2026-0408 — Sensipar for David Thompson
Action completed