The Trump administration revealed Wednesday that five of the country's largest employers will expand electronic prior authorization in self-funded plans.

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services and Department of Labor announced that the companies have signed a statement of support to invest in the technical and other capabilities necessary to advance electronic prior auth, which were outlined in insurers' 2025 pledge on the topic.

The participating employers are Amazon, Google, Meta, Oracle Corporation and Axon Enterprise, per the announcement. CMS and the Labor Department said they have been collaborating to help bring the prior authorization pledge to the self-funded employer market.

"We’ve brought insurers, providers, and technology companies to the table to modernize prior authorization, and now employers are helping us take another important step," said CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, M.D., in the announcement. "When the entire healthcare system moves together, we can spend less time on paperwork and more time getting patients the care they need."

In June 2025, insurers from across country—including the largest firms as well as smaller payers—agreed to take steps to reform prior authorization, including embracing electronic avenues to prior authorization. A framework for electronic submissions is set to be established and in place by Jan. 1, 2027.

In April, data from major payer industry organizations suggested that insurers had eliminated 11% of prior auths under the reform pledge. Payers had agreed to demonstrate tangible progress toward improvements by the midpoint of 2026.

Self-funded employers generally rely on third-party administrators to manage medical costs as well as services like prior auth.

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