The House Ways and Means Committee today voted to advance to the full House the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 8487), AHA-supported legislation that would streamline prior authorization requirements under Medicare Advantage plans. The bill would establish an electronic prior authorization process and reduce how long a health plan can consider a prior authorization request; create a “real-time decisions” process for routinely approved services; require plans to report on their prior authorization use and rate of approvals and denials; and encourage plans to adopt policies that adhere to evidence-based guidelines. 

“These policies to streamline MA prior authorization requirements by eliminating complexity and promoting uniformity would reduce the wide variation in prior authorizations methods that frustrate both patients and providers,” AHA said in a letter of support for the bill.
 

Related News Articles

Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Sept. 26 released premium and cost-sharing information for Medicare Advantage and Part D prescription drug…
Headline
The Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General Aug. 28 released a strategic plan to align its audits, evaluations, investigations and…
Headline
In an Aug. 28 letter to House sponsors, the AHA voiced support for the GOLD Card Act of 2023 (H.R. 4968) that would exempt qualifying providers from prior…
Headline
A bipartisan group of 233 representatives and 61 senators called on the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Service to enhance its proposal to streamline…
Headline
AHA May 17 shared with the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations its concern that some MA plans inappropriately…
Headline
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services yesterday released additional information on the Medicare Advantage Value-Based Insurance Design Model…