In her Jan. 31 Health & Science article, “My slog through the ‘sludge’,” Carolyn Y. Johnson shared the devastating story of the numerous barriers to health care she confronted at the hands of her insurance provider. Unfortunately, her story is not uncommon.

I’ve seen firsthand how Maryland patients have struggled to access lifesaving care, as have patients across the country. Many insurance providers are increasingly adopting new protocols, such as step therapy and prior authorization, that restrict patient access, create unnecessary hurdles for physicians and ultimately improve insurers’ bottom lines at the expense of patients.