Barriers and Consequences of Prior Authorization for Neurologic Medications: A Scoping Review

Prior authorization (PA) is widely used by insurers to control health care costs and promote high-value care, but it can create significant barriers to accessing medications. This is particularly concerning in neurology, where timely treatment is critical to avoid disease progression and optimize patient outcomes.

To assess the consequences, barriers, and facilitators of PA policies affecting access to pharmacologic treatment in 6 common neurologic conditions-Alzheimer disease, Parkinson disease, multiple sclerosis, migraine, cerebrovascular disease, and epilepsy-with focus on impacts on patients, clinicians, and administrators.

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) reporting guidelines for scoping reviews were followed, and the study protocol was registered on Open Science Framework. MEDLINE and Embase were searched up to November 1, 2024, using Ovid for studies that assessed the role of PA as a primary or secondary outcome for the 6 included neurologic conditions, or for neurology broadly if strongly applicable to the study aim, after the signage of the Affordable Care Act in March 2010. Abstract screening and full-text review were done in duplicate. Key information was charted in extraction, including study characteristics, demographics, methods, results, and implications for relevant stakeholders. The results were aggregated and thematically analyzed.

A total of 364 studies were identified using our search strategy on Ovid, 278 records were screened, and 20 studies were included in this review. The most frequently identified consequences for patients were delays in care (60%) and increase in disease activity (25%). The most frequently identified consequence for clinicians (35%) and administrators (15%) was time burden. The most common facilitators were the use of clinical pharmacists or technicians (20%) and health system specialty pharmacies (15%).

According to the results of this scoping review, PA can contribute to significant access barriers for people with neurological conditions and is associated with burden for all stakeholders involved. Reforms to PA can work towards more equitable access to medications for patients.