The American Medical Association has engaged a law firm to look into insurer and pharmacy benefit managers' prior authorization policies, which providers argue have become more complicated and burdensome in recent years, according to the American Journal of Managed Care.
Barbara McAneny, MD, CEO of the New Mexico Cancer Center in Albuquerque and former AMA president, said during a March 17 oncology conference that the law firm will look into ways it can legally challenge and curtail prior authorization.
Dr. McAneny said that although oncologists have reported prior authorization abuses for years, the practice has now reached a crisis point, feuling clinician burnout, causing treatment delays and overriding physician's attempts to use innovative therapies.
Dr. McAneny said that going to court is never the first choice, but often it is necessary. She said the law firm is looking to find the right plaintiff in the case.
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