Prior authorization for diabetes medications: Clinical outcomes and health disparities.

Background: Prior authorization (PA) is a utilization management strategy used by health plans to ensure affordable, cost-effective care; however, PA may lead to therapy delay/abandonment and exacerbate health disparities. The purpose of this observational study was to assess the clinical outcomes and any health disparities associated with PA for diabetes mellitus (DM) medications.

Materials And Methods: This was a cohort study of US adult patients from health plans with integrated and non-integrated system providers who were prescribed a DM medication that required a PA.