Congress is urging CMS to finalize a federal regulation that would overhaul prior authorization requirements within Medicare Advantage.
"We urge CMS to promptly finalize and implement these changes to increase transparency and improve the prior authorization process for patients, providers and health plans," lawmakers wrote to CMS, according to a July 24 article from the American Medical Association. "We are pleased that these proposed rules align with the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, which proposes a balanced approach to prior authorization in the [Medicare Advantage] program that would remove barriers to patients' timely access to care and allow providers to spend more time treating patients and less time on paperwork."
The letter was consigned by 61 senators and 233 House members.