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.
July 16, 2025
On July 8, the MMA submitted a formal comment in opposition to a Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) proposed rule that would dramatically restrict states’ ability to impose Medicaid provider taxes on insurance companies.
July 16, 2025
Minnesota Attorney General Keith Ellison met with the MMA Board of Trustees at its July 14 meeting and offered to regularly engage with the group to discuss the state’s healthcare issues.
July 16, 2025
The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is warning its registrants of new fraud schemes in which scammers impersonate DEA personnel and notify them that they are under investigation, presumably to obtain personal information.