2026 WEBINAR | Transforming Non-Emergency Transportation Prior Authorization with Robotic Process Automation (RPA)
Natalie Whitworth, RN, BSN, MBAVP, Enterprise Transformation and Integrated Care, Texas Health Resources. Non-emergency medical transportation (NEMT) prior authorizations are often time-consuming, manual, and prone to error—creating delays in care and administrative burden for clinical teams. In this session, Natalie Whitworth shares how Texas Health Resources redesigned this process using robotic process automation (RPA) to achieve end-to-end automation.
By eliminating manual form completion and streamlining data flow, Texas Health has significantly reduced missed or delayed authorizations while improving consistency and compliance. The initiative has not only enhanced operational reliability but also allowed case managers to shift their focus from administrative tasks to higher-value patient care coordination.
This work has resulted in more than $1 million in estimated annual savings and established a scalable foundation for applying automation across other administrative workflows. Attendees will gain practical insight into how targeted automation can unlock efficiency, improve outcomes, and support workforce optimization without large-scale system overhauls.
Expected Learnings:
- How RPA can be applied to automate end-to-end prior authorization workflows, including data intake, form completion, and submission
- Key process redesign considerations that enable successful automation (standardization, exception handling, and integration points)
- Measurable impacts on operational efficiency, including reduction in missed authorizations and administrative workload
- Strategies to redeploy clinical staff time toward higher-value activities such as care coordination and patient engagement
- Lessons learned in scaling automation initiatives beyond a single use case to broader enterprise transformation efforts