The prior authorization process that is required for anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (anti-VEGF) therapies did not save costs but actually increased total societal costs, according to data presented at the American Society of Retina Specialists (ASRS) annual meeting being held in Long Beach, California.

This analysis found that insurance companies were the only sector to save money from prior authorizations, but their savings were small and did not negate the increased costs to the rest of society, Ella H. Leung, M.D., with Georgia Retina, said during a session.

Anti-VEGF treatments reduce blood vessel leakage and growth in the eye and are used to treat macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy, retinal vein occlusion and macular edema.

Leung and her colleagues wanted to evalua

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