"Critical Treatment Approvals Delayed, Leaving Cancer Patients in Limbo"

Cancer patients, including veterans seeking care through the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), are facing delays in treatment due to prolonged prior authorization processes. Prior authorization is a requirement by most private and federal health insurance programs to reduce spending and avoid unnecessary care, but critics argue that it has become a tool to restrict or delay expensive treatments. Studies have shown that prior authorization is directly related to increased anxiety among cancer patients and erodes their trust in the healthcare system. The federal government is considering new rules to improve prior authorization, but in the meantime, patients must navigate a system marked by roadblocks and appeals.