Academy Continues to Generate Massive Support for Prior Authorization Reform

The Academy and our coalition of 10 national medical specialties is highlighting the broad, nationwide support for prior authorization reform this week. Lawmakers throughout Congress received a letter signed by 370 endorsers of the bipartisan Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2019, including nearly every ophthalmic subspecialty and state society. Our efforts are already paying dividends, with nearly a dozen new co-sponsors signing on to support the bill in Congress. 

The endorsing organizations, whose support was sought and secured by our Regulatory Relief Coalition, documents a strong sentiment among groups representing patients, providers, researchers and other stakeholders for ending the abuse of prior authorization by Medicare Advantage plans. 

The legislation, which is sponsored by Reps. Suzan Delbene, D-Wash., Mike Kelly, R-Pa., Roger Marshall, MD, R-Kan., and Ami Bera, MD, D-Calif., would protect patients from unreasonable Medicare Advantage plan requirements that needlessly delay or deny access to medically necessary care. 

The Academy believes that by gaining the support of a broader swath of stakeholder organizations, the bill sponsors are on solid footing as they begin the process of securing a vote on HR 3107 in Congress.