Autoimmune Association & LMDD Continue to Urge Action on Prior Authorization Reform

Let My Doctors Decide (LMDD) and the Autoimmune Association (AiA) are expanding efforts to raise awareness about harmful access barriers that prevent patients from getting doctor-recommended medicines and treatments. LMDD and AiA continue to meet with policymakers, partners, patient advocates, and other key stakeholders about recent studies and national polling on prior authorization. Prior authorization is a practice used by insurance companies that requires doctors to obtain approval from providers before they can prescribe a treatment. This time-consuming process not only requires health care providers to take valuable time away from patients, but it can also lead to negative health outcomes.

A recent a poll found that an overwhelming majority of consumers support changes to prior authorization practices to improve access and affordability.

Prior authorization, step therapy, and other unnecessary barriers further complicate health issues and defer wellness for more than 50 million patients who are dealing with existing complications because of their immune-mediated diseases. LMDD Principles Patient Principles and Call to Action are designed to provide meaningful reforms and strongly encourage the adoption of straightforward principles that address the barriers that prevent patients and doctors from making treatment decisions. This includes changes needed at national and state levels to improve benefit design, promote access and equality, and ensure coverage that empowers provider decision making, promotes access and adherence, and addresses affordability.

Visit the LMDD website for more information.