Cigna Ends Preauthorization for Medication to Treat Opioid Addiction

Health insurer Cigna Corp. will stop requiring that patients and doctors jump through extra hoops known as prior authorization to receive coverage of a medication to treat opioid addiction under a settlement with New York State's Attorney General, the attorney general's office said.

Cigna is making the change nationwide after the office of New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman requested information on the insurer's coverage policies "to address concerns about barriers to treatment," Mr. Schneiderman's office said in a statement.

Cigna didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

"Removing barriers to proven effective life-saving treatment is an important component to address New York's and the nation's opioid addiction crisis," Mr. Schneiderman said in the statement. "Other health insurers should take notice of Cigna's actions to remove access barriers to treat opioid dependency."

The policy change applies to buprenorphine, a medication that eases cravings for heroin and other opioid drugs.

Write to Jeanne Whalen at [e-mail] and Anna Wilde Mathews at [e-mail]

(END) Dow Jones Newswires

October 21, 2016 11:55 ET (15:55 GMT)

Copyright (c) 2016 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.