As the primary biologic coordinator at Digestive Health Specialists, a GI practice with more than 20 prescribers, Ashley Powers manages a high volume of daily prior auths. Every biologic, specialty drug, financial assistance form, and lab dependency flows through her.

Before Tandem, she underwent a manual process for each PA:

• Matching patients to the right pharmacy benefit plan

• Locating and updating the right PA and enrollment forms

• Calling pharmacies and insurers to confirm coverage

• Fixing denials caused by missing documentation

• Managing 300+ prescriptions in an overloaded task queue

Even working nonstop, Ashley could realistically only complete around 5 fully burdened PAs on average each day with the calls, uploads, and back-and-forth factored in.

The Challenge: Manual Workflows Slowed Patient Access

Before Tandem, each provider’s team was spending hours each week submitting and tracking prior authorizations across multiple payers and pharmacies. The manual nature of the process caused:

• Delays in therapy starts for patients waiting on approvals

• Inconsistent communication between providers, payers, and pharmacies

• Limited visibility into where each request stood in the workflow

With over 190 clinicians across 85 locations in the Midwest, DOCS Dermatology needed a scalable, automated solution that could bring consistency to prior authorization management – without adding new administrative headcount.

A Step-Function Increase in Output

Today, Ashley’s end-to-end prescription process runs through Tandem – and her throughput has multiplied.

“Pre-Tandem, I could maybe do 10 PAs a day, but that’s not including all the legwork. Realistically, it felt like 5 fully worked-up PAs.”

Now?

"With Tandem, half of it is already pre-filled and I’m just reading over it. I’m knocking out a good 15 to 30 a day.”

Moving Beyond CoverMyMeds

Before Tandem, Ashley spent a lot of time navigating CoverMyMeds. She dug around for the right forms, uploaded chart notes individually, and typed lengthy explanations into small text boxes. 

With Tandem, everything she needs is pulled directly from her EHR. Tandem manages finding and autofilling the right forms and ensures PAs don’t go out with missing pieces. 

Ashley’s routine is now focused and efficient:

1. Admin Automated: Tandem submits prior authorizations, flags any missing information, drafts appeals, and texts patients updates along the way.

2. Prioritization Aligned with Patient Needs: Ashley tackles time-sensitive action items organized in one place.

3. Complete Process Visibility: She gets full visibility into Tandem’s outreach to plans, pharmacies, and her patients, with all communication documented in one place.

4. Paperwork Streamlined and Always Current: Tandem centralizes paperwork and reminders, so she no longer maintains separate portals or tracks updates manually.

A Platform Worth Recommending to Everyone

After seeing her workload lighten and her patients get access to medicine faster, she found herself recommending Tandem to anyone who would listen.

"I recommend Tandem to everybody that walks through my door.”

For gastro practices looking to stay efficient as they grow, Ashley’s takeaway is simple: Tandem doesn’t replace a biologic coordinator – it’s their superpower that lets them accomplish more.

Supporting Your Practice

If your gastroenterology or specialty practice is ready to streamline prior authorizations and accelerate access to therapy, sign up your practice for Tandem today or book a demo to learn more.