𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸𝙁𝘼𝙎𝙏.  A major source of aggravation and burnout for the hundreds of physicians with whom we have research conversations every month stems from their trying to get “prior approval” for their patients’ use of expensive drugs.  Or worse, their not being able to get that approval for life saving medications.

But here’s an example of a physician pushing back.  In this twitter post, an oncologist stands up to an insurance company doctor, asking if his denying a potentially life-saving treatment for a young woman with breast cancer is the “hill he wants to die on?”   And includes subsequent tweets from other doctors suggesting that she call the offender out by name rather than letting him hide in anonymity.  

As “specialty drugs” get more expensive, approval is getting harder and harder to get.  Is it time for practicing physicians to push back against the insurance companies and their for-hire, door slamming physicians?  Probably!  

Click here to read this oncologist’s comments on Twitter: 
https://bit.ly/40UO9a4 

To view more ThinkFast posts: https://bit.ly/3E3O8a6