September 15, 2022
On September 14, the U.S. House of Representatives unanimously passed the “Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act” (H.R. 3173), a bill which reduces prior authorization (PA) burdens for physicians providing care to patients under Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
Specifically, the bill would require all MA plans to establish electronic PA programs, conform to a standardized PA process for the most routinely approved services (some of which must be considered for real-time decisions at the time of request), and ensure that all PA requests are reviewed by medical personnel.
The MMA is one of more than 500 health-related organizations endorsing the legislation. According to the most recent data from the Centers of Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), approximately 506,405 Minnesotans are enrolled in MA plans, comprising around 48% of all Medicaid enrollees in the state.
The MMA will continue to update its members on the progression of the bill. For further information, please contact Adrian Uphoff, MMA health policy analyst.
August 28, 2025
The apparent removal of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Director, Susan Monarez, PhD, after just weeks on the job, further imperils the work of the CDC and the health of Americans. Her removal was followed by the resignations of other senior leaders at the CDC, who have accused HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. of undermining scientific recommendations for vaccines.
August 26, 2025
University of Minnesota President Rebecca Cunningham, MD, will speak at the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Learning & Connection event on Friday, September 26, from 4 to 9 pm, at the historic Hewing Hotel in downtown Minneapolis.
August 26, 2025
America's physicians are seeing a rise in misinformation and disinformation from patients these days, and it’s impacting patient care, according to a new study from the Physicians Foundation.