Prior Authorization of Antidepressants: Effects on Patient Care

Medicaid and Medicare spending on psychotropic medications has prompted some states to implement cost-control policies requiring prior authorization (PA) for specific drugs. Few studies have examined how PA programs alter medication-use rates or outcomes. These researchers examined the effects of a 2002–2003 Michigan policy requiring PA for dual Medicaid/Medicare enrollees (i.e., permanently disabled individuals aged <65) for antidepressant prescriptions other than paroxetine or generic fluoxetine. Indiana Medicaid/Medicare data served as the control.

To compare usage patterns for medications and nondrug healthcare in both continuously enrolled and newly treated patient cohorts, researchers employed a longitudinal time series analysis from 2…