Prior Authorization Legislation Introduced in the House

On June 5, H.R. 3107, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, was introduced. Sponsored by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), Mike Kelly (R-Pa.), Roger Marshall, MD, (R-Kan.) and Ami Bera, MD, (D-Calif.), this legislation would protect patients in Medicare Advantage from unnecessary prior authorization practices that limit timely access to medically necessary care. The bill is based on a neurosurgery-supported consensus statement on prior authorization, which was developed by leading national organizations representing physicians, hospitals and health plans. The CNS and the AANS issued a press release in support of the legislation, at which time we simultaneously released the results of our prior authorization survey.