Reps. Jayapal, Khanna introduce bill to ban prior authorization in Medicare Advantage

Democratic Representatives Pramila Jayapal and Ro Khanna introduced legislation to prohibit the use of prior authorization for any item or service covered under Medicare Advantage plans. The bill, aimed at reducing administrative burdens and care delays, comes amid a regulatory push by CMS to streamline prior authorization processes across MA and other programs. While its passage in the current Congress is uncertain, the proposal signals intensifying political pressure on MA plans and could influence CMS's ongoing rulemaking on electronic prior authorization and response timelines. Track the bill's progress as a barometer for potential future CMS policy tightening.