The House Ways and Means Committee has advanced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, an ACC-backed prior authorization bill that would help reduce regulatory burdens in the Medicare Advantage (MA) program.

The bill, which received overwhelming support from the Committee, would reform prior authorization by:

• Establishing an electronic prior authorization program;
• Standardizing and streamlining the process for routinely approved services, including establishing a list of services eligible for real-time prior authorization decisions;
• Ensuring prior authorization requests are reviewed by qualified medical personnel while increasing transparency around the MA prior authorization process and requirements.

The ACC, and other physician specialty organizations that make up the Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC), will continue advocating for Congress to pass this legislation by the end of the year.

“The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would increase efficiency and transparency for prior authorization within the Medicare Advantage program,” said ACC President Edward T. A. Fry, MD, FACC. “This legislation will help the patients we treat, while also reducing administrative burden, removing barriers to care, lowering the cost of care, and improving care team well-being. The ACC urges Congress to pass this bipartisan and widely supported legislation.”

For more on this step forward in streamlining MA prior authorization, access the RRC press release.

Clinical Topics: Geriatric Cardiology

Keywords: Physicians, Electronics, Health Services Accessibility, Health Policy, Quality Improvement, Medicare Part C, Prior Authorization, Aged, ACC Advocacy

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