A multicenter study published in Clinical and Translational Gastroenterology highlights critical delays in initiating advanced therapies for inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) due to insurance preauthorizations, intravenous (IV) administration, and lack of pharmacy support. Researchers analyzed 388 adult patients across two U.S. academic medical centers, identifying three key risk factors significantly increasing the likelihood of a >14-day delay between prescription and first dose.
These findings highlight the urgent need for streamlined prior authorization processes, improved pharmacy coordination, and alternative drug delivery strategies to reduce treatment delays. Given the proven benefits of early biologic therapy, could addressing these systemic barriers significantly improve outcomes for IBD patients?