June 5, 2019: MGMA applauds new prior authorization bill

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
June 5, 2019

Media Contact:
Emily Dowsett
Associate Director, Public Affairs
edowsett@mgma.com
 

MGMA applauds new prior authorization bill

Anders Gilberg
Senior Vice President, Government Affairs
Medical Group Management Association

“MGMA applauds Representatives DelBene, Kelly, Marshall, and Bera for introducing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. This legislation significantly improves a prior authorization process that is overused, costly, inefficient, opaque, and, most critically, responsible for delays in the delivery of patient care. By requiring Medicare Advantage plans to enable real-time, electronic prior authorization decisions, physician practices will have less administrative burden and can appropriately focus attention back on the patient. The transparency provisions of the legislation—mandating MA plans to publicly reveal what services require a prior authorization, how many are approved, and how long on average they take to approve—will drive plan accountability.  This bill is an important step towards streamlining the prior authorization process and prioritizing the physician-patient relationship. We’re eager to work with Congress to get this legislation passed.”

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