Amazon, Google, Meta, Oracle and Axon back Trump administration’s prior authorization overhaul

The Department of Labor and the Department of Health and Human Services announced on Wednesday that representatives from the five companies have signed a statement supporting the expansion of electronic prior authorization reform to self-insured health plans. All five companies operate self-insured health plans for their employees.

"The departments appreciate these U.S. companies for stepping forward to collaborate with Labor and Health and Human Services to help employees cut through red tape and receive their health benefits," said Daniel Aronowitz, the Labor Department's assistant secretary for employee benefits security.

The statement supports the Prior Authorization Pledge that was signed by nearly 50 insurers in June 2025. The pledge calls for six reforms, including standardizing prior authorization submissions, reducing the number of procedures that require preauthorization, and having medical professionals review all clinical denials. It also calls for third-party administrators to be more transparent in communicating authorization decisions and appeals.

The 2025 pledge applied to insurers' Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, Health Insurance Marketplace, and commercial health plans. It did not apply to self-insured employer plans, which cover most workers with job-based coverage. These plans are governed by federal law and regulated by the Labor Department, rather than state insurance regulators.

"CMS believes patients and doctors shouldn't have to fall back on faxes and paperwork simply because of how a patient's health plan is funded," said CMS Administrator Dr. Mehmet Oz.

Oz said that the administration has already brought insurers, providers, and technology companies together to modernize prior authorization. "Now employers are helping us take another important step," he said.