The Prior Authorization Crisis and 340B Drug Program Explained
From Healthcare Americana by Christopher Habig
December 9, 2025 · 36 min · Episode 276
About this episode
Christopher Habig discusses the prior authorization crisis and the 340B drug program with Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio.
In this episode of Healthcare Americana, host Christopher Habig talks with neurosurgeon and healthcare policy leader Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio about the growing crisis around prior authorizations. They discuss how complicated approval processes delay urgent care, burden physicians, and put patients at risk. Dr. DiGiorgio explains why smarter, low-friction models such as gold-carding and stronger subspecialty board oversight could help rebuild trust between physicians and payers. The conversation also covers the 340B drug discount program, which Dr. DiGiorgio has testified about before Congress. He explains how a program originally designed to help low-income patients has become a major revenue source for large hospital systems and often increases costs for Medicaid, Medicare, and private insurance. Together, they offer a clear and accessible look at what is broken in these systems and what meaningful reform could achieve. More on Freedom Healthworks & FreedomDoc Health Subscribe at https://healthcareamericana.com/ More on Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio Follow Healthcare Americana: Instagram & LinkedIN
People in this episode
Host: Christopher Habig
Guest: Dr. Anthony DiGiorgio
Topics covered
- prior authorization
- healthcare policy
- 340B drug program
- patient care
- physician burden
- healthcare reform
Keywords
- prior authorization
- 340B drug program
- healthcare reform
- neurosurgeon
- patient care
- physician burden
- health policy
Mentioned in this episode
Organizations: Freedom Healthworks, FreedomDoc Health
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