On Prior Authorization:

“Evidence indicates that prior authorization requirements may be discriminatory and worsen health disparities, as documented in a study examining access to treatment for HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis and a white paper which examined the disproportionate impact of prior authorization requirements on cardiovascular care for Black and other patients of color. We are concerned that prior authorization requirements can worsen health disparities and create barriers to care for medically underserved patients, patients of color, LGBTQ+ patients, patients in rural areas, and those at risk for poor health outcomes. Federal oversight and action is needed to address the negative impacts prior authorizations are having on patients and physicians.”

- American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP)

On Step Therapy:

“Step therapy, nonmedical drug switching, and other cost-curbing formulary designs can also undermine the medical expertise of physicians and fail to adequately account for the individual characteristics and needs of patients, including comorbid conditions, concurrent medications, and demographic factors, all of which can impact a medication’s effectiveness and side effects.”

- American College of Physicians (ACP)

On Copay Accumulators:

“In an adjusted analysis of this selected sample of a commercially insured population, there was no difference in the use of copay cards between non-White and White patients. CAP exposure, however, was significantly higher among non-White patients. This increased exposure suggests a disproportionate effect due to this reduction in copay assistance benefits, which has the potential to exacerbate racial and ethnic disparities in access to medications.”

- Mike Ingham, MSc, Kay Sadik, PharmD, PhD, Xiaohui Zhao, PhD, Ji Song, PhD, and A. Mark Fendrick, MD

On Health Insurance Plan Design:

“The disproportionate rate and impact of utilization management barriers experienced by people of color has the potential to perpetuate or even worsen longstanding health disparities.”

- Institute for Patient Access

On Prescription Drug Affordability Boards:

“Until insurance companies listen and stop putting their costs above our lives, nothing will change. And THIS IS WHY patients are fearful of losing access to our medications - NOT because pharmaceutical companies are trying to instill fear in us we will lose our access or because they are scripting us to say this. This is our reality, our fears every damn year - and it needs to stop. PDABs and Upper Payment Limit (UPL) setting will cause some patients to lose access to their miracle drug. There is no way around it.”

- International Foundation for Autoimmune and AutoinflammatoryArthritis (AiArthritis)