11/30/2022
Streamline the Prior Authorization Process to Stop Delays in Care
Take action on prior authorization!
A recent survey of ASCO members revealed nearly all respondents have experienced patient harm and significant practice hurdles due to prior authorization practices, including:
- Delays of treatment (96%)
- Patients forced onto a second-choice therapy (93%)
- Increased patient out-of-pocket costs (88%)
- Denial of therapy (87%)
- Unsuccessful appeals (96%)
- Lack of transparency in prior authorization process (91%)
The Improving Senior’s Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173/S. 3018), aims to streamline prior authorization practices within the Medicare Advantage (MA) program.
The bill would:
- Create an electronic prior authorization (ePA) process and require MA plans to adopt ePA capabilities
- Require HHS to establish a list of items and services eligible for real-time decisions
- Standardize and streamline the prior authorization process for routinely approved items and services
- Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and their use
It’s important to send this legislation to the President’s desk by the end of the year. Urge your Senators to pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.