At Abarca Forward 2026, healthcare leaders came together to address one of the industry’s most persistent challenges: prior authorization. In this interview, Javier Gonzalez, president of PBM and commercial strategy at Abarca Health, shares insights on why the current system creates friction across payers, providers and patients, and what must change to move the industry forward.
Gonzalez explains that beyond operational inefficiencies, prior authorization is fundamentally a trust challenge at the intersection of cost, access and patient experience that affects speed to therapy, provider workflows, and continuity of care. He outlines a path toward a more modern approach built on interoperability, real-time data and intelligent automation, while emphasizing the need to redesign workflows and better align incentives across stakeholders.
With growing regulatory momentum and advancing technology, the opportunity to reduce administrative burden and improve outcomes is within reach. As highlighted at Abarca Forward 2026, meaningful progress will depend on turning industry dialogue into coordinated action.
Watch the full conversation to learn how collaboration, transparency and value-based incentives can help reshape prior authorization into a more seamless, patient-centered experience.
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