Bill would improve seniors’ access to care
WASHINGTON — U.S. Sens. John Fetterman, D-Pa., Mark Warner, D-Va., and Roger Marshall, R-Kan., reintroduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act – bipartisan, zero-cost legislation to improve access to care for seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
The bill focuses on streamlining the often cumbersome and time-consuming prior authorization process, ultimately allowing healthcare providers to spend more time on patient care rather than administrative burdens.
This legislation would help physicians better serve and improve care for the 32.8 million Americans who have MA plans.
“Seniors in Pennsylvania must be able to access the health care they need without having to jump through unnecessary hoops like prior authorization,” said Fetterman. “This is a commonsense, bipartisan bill that will help our seniors receive the medical treatment they need more quickly and give our doctors and nurses more time to see and treat their patients. I’m proud to join Sens. Warner and Marshall to introduce this legislation, and I hope to see it passed soon.”
The legislation is supported by the Better Medicare Alliance, Humana, and 138 other healthcare organizations, the senators said in a press release.
“Prior authorization helps keep healthcare costs low and ensures seniors are getting the most appropriate care. But the process should be easier. The changes put forth in this legislation are long overdue and will help ensure seniors can get the care they need without delay,” said Mary Beth Donahue, president and CEO of Better Medicare Alliance. “We are proud to support this bill.”
The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would:
- Establish an electronic prior authorization process for Medicare Advantage plans, including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
- Increase transparency around Medicare Advantage prior authorization requirements and their use.
- Clarify HHS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-prior authorization requests, including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and other prior authorization requests.
- Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
- Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-prior authorization process.
- Result in a zero cost to American taxpayers.
