SUD records and the machinery of care denial in the new era of relaxed privacy rights

Abstract

As noted by this recent opinion piece published by The New York Times, “Denying Your Health Care Is Big Business in America,” the process of prior authorization has been around for decades, but has only recently been weaponized by insurers to maximize profits and reduce the provision of health care services. The piece documents people going blind, becoming paralyzed or dying when necessary health care procedures are denied. Around 80% of the time, patients simply give up. Medical care offices have hired huge staffs to battle prior authorization denials. One of the focuses of the piece is on efforts to make prior authorization for medical care by for‐profit companies illegal. It is stalled in Congress.