[alistairSH]

> They’re essentially requirements that a physician get approval from an insurance company before prescribing a treatment. Doctors need no approval from anyone to prescribe. A prior authorization is approval from the insurance company that they agree with the treatment option and will pay for it (subject to deductible/copay/oop max).

To the consumer, the experience is the same - they can’t get a necessary drug before spending hours or days playing telephone tag with their doctors office and insurance company. Often, this happens for a drug they’ve taken their whole life. Insulin, thyroid hormone, etc.