Statement on House Passage of the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act

Premier applauds the House of Representatives’ passage of the bipartisan Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 (H.R. 3173).

The current system of prior authorization is plagued with an overreliance on faxes, phone calls and a literal paper trail, which too often results in care delays and increased costs. This antiquated process requires providers to spend hours immersed in administrative tasks—time that should be spent delivering care and practicing medicine directly. With record labor shortages, inflation and other demands in the healthcare sector, it is more critical than ever that providers are able to leverage technology to create efficiencies. By establishing electronic prior authorization requirements within Medicare Advantage, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would support the use of advanced technologies to drive evidence-based care and improve outcomes while significantly reducing administrative burden and costs.

Premier urges the Senate to swiftly pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act to remove obstacles to access to timely care for America’s seniors.