The New Way Insurers Say No!

Abstract

In the last decade states, such as New York, have taken steps to end some of the tactics used by health insurers to deny their members access to addiction treatment services. They have ended prior authorization or the ability for insurers to review and approve the need for treatment services before an individual could begin treatment. This change comes from hearing too many stories of families waiting in the treatment program parking lot with their loved one for insurer approval to enter the program. Many left after waiting hours for such approval as the person started to suffer from withdrawal, while others continued to use drugs during the wait.