There's entire companies (example: MedExpert) whose clients are health insurance companies whose job it is to re-route physician and patient requests for expensive necessary treatment to cheaper alternatives: https://www.medexpert.com/results/

When they can't completely deny they delay and/or set up burdensome hoops for the patient to jump through before they will qualify for treatment. It's literally their business model.

They even brag about it on their website! > Reduced inpatient hospital admissions by 15% > Reduced use of skilled nursing facilities by 15% (because we won't approve them for nursing care!) > MedExpert clearly reduces rates of unnecessary elective surgery.

If you want entertainment go to their glassdoor reviews and sort by lowest ratings: https://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/MedExpert-Reviews-E777566....