Payers can help break down barriers to access, ICER says

Cost-effectiveness body the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER) has published its second annual Barriers to Fair Access assessment of prescription drug coverage policies in the USA.

The ICER’s analysis found that major payer coverage policies for 19 drugs demonstrated high concordance with many fair access criteria related to cost sharing, clinical eligibility, step therapy, and provider restrictions.

"The payer community has a critical role to play in ensuring access"The report’s findings also suggest that major improvements are needed in the transparency of coverage policy information for consumers, and in reducing the complexity of the prior authorization process for both clinicians and patients.