What you'll accomplish
By the end of this guide, you'll be able to use Claude to draft comprehensive, well-organized prior authorization documentation packages for home health, DME (durable medical equipment), and skilled nursing facility placement — cutting the time you spend on this frustrating task by 50% or more, while producing cleaner documentation that gets approved faster.
What you'll need
- Free Claude account (claude.ai) — free tier works
- Basic understanding of what payers typically require for the authorization you're requesting
- The clinical facts for the specific case (de-identified before entering into Claude)
- Time needed: 45 minutes to learn the approach; 15–20 minutes per prior auth case thereafter
- Cost: Free
How-To Guide: Streamline Prior Authorization Documentation
Step 1: Understand what you're requesting
Before asking Claude for help, know clearly:
- What service/equipment you're requesting authorization for
- What payer/insurance you're dealing with
- The specific medical criteria that typically qualify (ask your case manager if unsure)
Common prior auth requests nurses help document: home health nursing visits, home physical therapy, home oxygen (O2 sat criteria), power wheelchair/scooter, hospital bed, wound care supplies, continuous tube feeding, home IV antibiotics, SNF placement.