Sens. Thune, Brown Introduce Bipartisan Bill to Establish Electronic Prior Authorization System, Get Older Americans Timely Access to Care They Need

InsuranceNewsNet reports that U.S. Sens. John Thune (R-S.D.) and Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) recently proposed the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, under which private insurers companies operating Medicare Advantage (MA) plans must establish an electronic prior authorization (ePA) system to approve medical services in a more timely manner. The bipartisan bill would help to simplify prior authorization processes and promote safe, timely, and affordable access to evidence-based care for MA enrollees and the providers and suppliers who care for them. "Our bipartisan legislation would ensure that everyone knows the rules of the road," Thune said. "It would also promote real-time decisions for routine services when feasible, making healthcare more efficient and patient-centered." The legislation also would require the U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services to formulate a list of items and services eligible for real-time decisions under an MA ePA program. Finally, it would standardize and streamline the prior authorization process for routinely approved items and service and ensure prior authorization requests are reviewed by qualified medical staff.