Robert Locklear: Less than half of patients prescribed new cholesterol drug receive insurance approval

Monday, October 30, 2017

Less than half of patients prescribed new cholesterol drug receive insurance approval

In the largest study of its kind, less than half of patients prescribed the new class of cholesterol drugs, PCSK9 inhibitors, received insurance approval even if patients had atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (plaque build-up of the arteries) or markedly elevated bad cholesterol. The most significant factor associated with approval was insurance type, with Medicare patients more likely to be approved than those with private insurance.