The American Association of Neurological Surgeons and the Congress of Neurological Surgeons voiced support for a Senate bill addressing prior authorizations for some patients.
The newly introduced bill, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, has bipartisan support and is sponsored by Sen. Roger Marshall, MD, R-Kan.; Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, D-Ariz.; and Sen. John Thune, R-S.D., according to an Oct. 20 news release. The legislation would apply to patients in Medicare Advantage, and it would protect them from unnecessary prior authorization practices.
"Prior authorization is another tactic that health plans are using to cut costs, but its rampant overuse is now causing inappropriate delays and denials of medical treatments that our seniors need," John Ratliff, MD, chair of the AANS/CNS Washington Committee, said in the release.
Rep. Suzan DelBene, D- Wash.; Rep. Mike Kelly, R-Pa.; Rep. Ami Bera, MD, D-Calif.; and Rep. Larry Bucshon, MD, R-Ind., introduced identical legislation in the House, and it has 235 co-sponsors.