Racial bias found in cancer treatment approvals

A study conducted by Benjamin Ukert, PhD, at Texas A&M University used data from a major national insurance provider to investigate the role of prior authorization in disparities in cancer care coverage. The study, which looked at data from 18,041 cancer patients diagnosed between 2017 and 2020, found no racial or ethnic disparities in prior authorization outcomes. The prior authorization denial rate averaged 10%, with no significant variations based on race or ethnicity.