Key Points:
- Patients with gastrointestinal issues like rectal bleeding, inflammatory bowel disease, or potential colorectal cancer require immediate medical care, including essential procedures like colonoscopies or endoscopies.
- Many Americans face delays and denials in accessing necessary GI care due to insurance company practices, particularly the prior authorization process.
- This process allows insurers to overrule physicians’ clinical decisions, leading to delayed or denied access to prescribed health services.
- Prior authorization is used by insurers as a cost-control tool, often leading to patients abandoning their recommended treatment. This can result in adverse health impacts, including hospitalization.