On Wednesday, numerous bipartisan lawmakers overhauled the advance approval process for seniors who have registered with the Medicare Advantage (MA) plan and reintroduced a bill that would cut some of the red tapes facing home health providers.
Improving timely access to care for seniors is aimed at amending part of the Social Security Act, establishing pre-MA approval requirements, increasing transparency and requiring electronic pre-authentication systems.
“As a doctor, I have seen firsthand how a broken pre-certification process slows down the care needed and irritates both the elderly and their doctors,” said Rep. Amibella (D-Calif.), one of the lawmakers who support the bill. “Improving access to timely access for older adults is reduced through deficits and makes it easier for seniors to access the treatment and services they need when they need it. This bipartisan law is a common sense amendment that helps to paperwork patients, restore trust in the system and focus on physicists on providing quality care.”
The bill has been introduced several times before, including 2022 and 2024. Specifically, the bill would require an electronic pre-authentication system, require more transparency regarding the use and requirements of MA pre-authorization, clarify the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) authority, set timelines for decisions, and require reporting of other laws to the HHS and other electronic systems.
According to Rep. Maggie Hassan, D-New Hampshire, the bill would reduce the burden of the “unnecessarily complicated” pre-authorization process.
“This bipartisan law is a common sense way to help older people with the advantages of Medicare in access to care and to help providers focus on patients instead of paperwork,” Hassan said in a statement.
The Better Medicare Alliance, a research and advocacy organization with members of MA beneficiaries, caregivers, health plans and more, praised the bill.
“Previous approvals help to keep healthcare costs low and ensure that older people get the most appropriate care,” Mary Beth Donahue, president and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance, said in a statement. “But this process should be easier. The changes that occur under this law have been delayed for a long time and will help ensure that older people can receive the care they need without delay.”
