Joco Today

Jan 17, 2024

Today, U.S. Senators Roger Marshall, M.D. (KS), Sherrod Brown (OH), John Thune (SD), and Kyrsten Sinema (AZ) and Representatives Suzan DelBene (WA-01), Mike Kelly (PA-16), Ami Bera, MD (CA-06), and Larry Bucshon, MD (IN-08) issued a statement expressing their support for the new prior authorization regulations introduced by the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS). These regulations are aimed at improving the access to medical care for seniors and reducing the administrative burden on healthcare providers.

In their statement, the lawmakers emphasized the importance of the new regulations in ensuring that seniors receive the care they need without unnecessary delays and denials due to prior authorization. They also highlighted the positive impact these changes will have on healthcare providers, allowing them to focus more on delivering quality care rather than spending hours on the phone with insurance companies.

"While CMS could have gone further, these changes will help bring the antiquated prior authorization system into the 21st century with commonsense changes like a streamlined approval process and increased transparency," the lawmakers stated.

However, they also noted that more needs to be done and called on Congress to pass the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act. This bipartisan and bicameral legislation aims to further solidify the gains made by the CMS regulations and ensure that seniors continue to receive the care they are entitled to, while also reducing the unnecessary burden on physicians and hospitals.

The lawmakers are confident that the new CMS regulations, combined with the passage of the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, will significantly improve the healthcare system for seniors and healthcare providers alike.

The introduction of these new regulations has been welcomed by advocates who have long been pushing for reforms in the prior authorization process. These advocates argue that the current system is burdensome and often results in unnecessary delays in care.

"This is a major win for seniors and their families," said the lawmakers. "These new protections will make a big difference in helping seniors access the medical care they are entitled to without unnecessary delays and denials due to prior authorization."

Overall, the new CMS regulations have been met with positive feedback from lawmakers and advocates alike. The focus now shifts to Congress, where the lawmakers are urging their colleagues to pass the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act and ensure that the gains made by the CMS regulations are cemented into law. By doing so, they believe that seniors will receive the care they deserve, and healthcare providers will be able to operate more efficiently without unnecessary administrative burdens.