National Survey of Attitudes Toward Cardiovascular Treatment & Access

An attitudinal survey of more than 350 heart disease patients, providers, caregivers
and stakeholders revealed widespread concerns about how health plans delay access
to life-saving medication. The issue affects a broad swath of the country. One-third of
Americans have high LDL cholesterol, putting them at increased risk for heart disease,
the leading cause of death in the United States.1
Meanwhile, one American has a heart
attack every 40 seconds.2 For these people, unreasonable medication delays caused by
prior authorization or step therapy can be serious, even life threatening.
The survey, conducted online from August to September 2018, also found that, while
patients may not fully understand the impact of cardiovascular disease risks or treatment
options, nearly all respondents agreed that physicians, not health insurers, should