Key Insights:
- Insurer-mandated barriers, such as prior authorizations and medication denials, negatively impact patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), leading to decreased satisfaction with insurance and worse clinical outcomes.
- Presented at the 2024 Crohn’s & Colitis Congress, the study by Dr. Brad David Constant and his team found that these barriers are associated with increased odds of IBD-related surgeries and the need for corticosteroid rescue therapy.
- The research involved a survey conducted via the IBD Partners Nationwide Patient-Powered Research Network, targeting over 4,000 IBD patients with either public or commercial health insurance. The study particularly noted a higher prevalence of insurance barriers among patients with public insurance.
- The findings indicate significant harm due to insurance practices like medication denials and step therapy, which do not usually alter the ultimate medication prescribed but add to patient distress and healthcare utilization.
The study underscores the substantial negative effects that insurer-mandated barriers have on the treatment and overall satisfaction of patients with IBD. Addressing these insurance practices is crucial for improving patient care and outcomes in the healthcare system.