Congress’ prior authorization power play

Politico June 21, 2023
By Ben Leonard and Erin Schumaker

Many in Congress think the government needs to set stricter rules to prevent health insurers’ from slow-walking decisions on whether to approve treatments.

But representatives hit a snag last year after their bill to tighten up the “prior authorization” process breezed through the House because senators were concerned about the measure’s projected $16 billion cost.

So they’re urging the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to use its power over insurers to tighten up the rules around prior authorization.

How so? More than 230 representatives and 61 senators wrote today to Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra and CMS Administrator Chiquita Brooks-LaSure asking them to make changes to a rule CMS proposed in December that would require health insurance...

Today's Sponsors

Today's Sponsor