4 R.I. health insurers drop ‘prior authorization’ for opioid-treatment medications

May 18--Rhode Island's four major health insurers will end a practice known as prior authorization for certain medications commonly used to treat opioid addiction, the state health insurance commissioner said Wednesday.

The insurers -- Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island, Tufts Health Plan and United Healthcare -- have signed an agreement with the commissioner, Dr. Kathleen Hittner, to end the practice, which providers have said unnecessarily delays treatment for patients with opioid dependency disorders.

The agreement covers medications such as buprenorphine and a similar brand-name medication, Suboxone.

Number patients actively prescribed buprenorphine

"I am very pleased to announce these agreements, which will greatly improve access to necessary medications for patients with opioid dependence disorders," Hittner said in a statement. "Working together with Rhode Island's health insurers, we've found a way to streamline processes for coverage of these treatments. I am grateful for the insurers' collaboration and commitment to fighting this public health crisis."

Prior authorization is required by some health insurance companies to determine whether they will cover prescribed medications or procedures. The process, designed as a safety and cost-saving measure, has come under criticism from doctors for delaying treatment.

In March, more than 4,600 people were treated with buprenorphine in Rhode Island, according to state health department data published on preventoverdoseri.org.

"The steps announced today are important to improving access to medication assisted treatment for Rhode Islanders struggling with opioid addiction," Dr. Tracey Cohen, medical director at Neighborhood Health, said in a statement. "Too many lives are derailed, or even cut short, by this epidemic."

Neighborhood Health announced in July 2016 that it had removed prior-authorization requirements for Suboxone tablets up to a total daily dose of 24 milligrams.

-- larditi@providencejournal.com

(401)277-7335

On Twitter: @LynnArditi

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