The Medical Group Management Association (MGMA) has issued a response to a June 23 announcement from insurers that affirms their commitment to simplifying prior authorization.
"While we are encouraged by [the] announcement from health plans on prior authorization, much of what insurers intend to do has already been mandated by CMS for their Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care plans, along with similar adoption dates," the association said. "It makes sense for them to implement changes across commercial products as well. MGMA joined a consensus statement with provider groups and health plans in 2018 that had similar agreed-upon principles for improving prior authorization, yet year after year, we continue to hear from physician practices that it is their number one administrative burden. Seven years after the consensus statement and several CMS final rules later, health insurers appear to finally be taking steps toward implementation. We look forward to receiving more details about the initiative and working towards reducing the overall volume and burden of prior authorization requirements."
