Patient Perspectives on Prior Authorization for Cancer Care

How do patients with cancer describe their experiences with prior authorization for cancer care?In this qualitative study of 89 participants, 4 interconnected themes emerged from the responses to an open-ended text prompt: blinded navigation, intersecting burdens, interference with care, and a broken system. Themes described patients’ perspectives that prior authorization is a confusing process that adds to the administrative, psychosocial, and financial burdens of cancer care.These findings suggest that prior authorization processes can lead to negative outcomes for patients, and efforts toward health insurance reform must be inclusive of the patient voice.

Corresponding Author: Bridgette Thom, PhD, University of North Carolina School of Social Work, 325 Pittsboro St, #3550, Chapel Hill, NC 27516 (bridgette.thom@unc.edu).

Link to the article in your story

We encourage you to link out to this article in your story using the link below. It includes an access token that will give free access to the article for your readers up to one year after publication. (The link will be live after the article publishes and embargo is lifted.)

Please see the article for additional information, including full author list, author contributions and affiliations, conflict of interest and financial disclosures, and funding and support.

Need more information? Contact us.