The use of prior authorization by health insurers appears to be on the rise. Although insurers argue that this practice is a critical tool to control costs and reduce inappropriate service utilization, providers and patients raise concerns that it can inhibit patient care and increase administrative burdens.
"While insurers traditionally have used prior authorization to manage the most expensive therapies, in recent years stakeholders report an increase in the number and scope of medical services subject to prior authorization requirements," according to a report from the Georgetown University Center on Health Insurance Reforms. "Prior authorization appears to be most commonly applied to durable medical equipment, high-cost drugs and mental health or substance use disorder services."
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Alan Goforth
Alan Goforth is a freelance writer in suburban Kansas City. In addition to freelancing for several publications, he has written a dozen books about sports and other topics.
