May 15, 2025
The MMA is once again endorsing the Improving Senior’s Timely Access to Care Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation that addresses the overuse and abuse of prior authorization (PA) by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans which threaten access to patient care and increase provider administrative burdens.
The MMA supported this bill when it was introduced last year.
If passed, the bill will:
Establish an electronic prior authorization (e-PA) process for MA plans including a standardization for transactions and clinical attachments.
Increase transparency around MA prior authorization requirements and their use.
Provide a pathway for CMS to institute real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services in the future and clarify CMS’ authority to establish timeframes for e-PA requests including expedited determinations, real-time decisions for routinely approved items and services, and any other PA request.
Expand beneficiary protections to improve enrollee experiences and outcomes.
Require HHS and other agencies to report to Congress on program integrity efforts and other ways to further improve the e-PA process.
Since its introduction, more than 550 organizations like the MMA have endorsed the legislation.
May 29, 2025
As the Legislature works to complete its work on the state’s two-year budget, another deadline is looming. Legislators are required to pass a balanced budget before the end of the fiscal year—June 30, 2025. If they don’t meet that deadline, the state will begin a partial shutdown.
May 29, 2025
Registration has opened for the Empowering Physicians: A Night of Reflection and Engagement event, featuring best-selling author Elisabeth Rosenthal, MD.
May 29, 2025
The AMA is encouraging physicians to contact their U.S. senators and urge them to revise the reconciliation bill passed recently by the U.S. House of Representatives. While the bill includes language that would stabilize Medicare physician payments, it also threatens to cripple Medicaid and CHIP.