June 13, 2024
The MMA has signed on to support federal bipartisan legislation that would tackle the overuse and abuse of prior authorization (PA) by Medicare Advantage (MA) plans.
Introduced June 12, the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care (Seniors’) Act, is co-sponsored by Sen. Amy Klobuchar and Rep. Betty McCollum and has the support of more than 380 organizations and 42 senators and 130 house members.
The bill would codify and enhance elements of the Advancing Interoperability and Improving Prior Authorization Processes (e-PA) rule that was finalized by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) on January 17, 2024.
In efforts to promote swift passage in Congress, the bill sponsors made modest adjustments to the legislation to align with CMS’ final e-PA rule and to reduce the Congressional Budget Office score. Changes include a requirement for CMS to issue a report on implementing real-time decisions, an analysis on enrollee impact, and clarifying CMS’s authority to modify the timeframes for making PA determinations.
October 9, 2025
The MMA is partnering with Hennepin Healthcare to offer an in-person session on “Supporting Patients, Families, and Professionals in the Aftermath of Crisis” on October 21 from 6 to 8 pm in Room RL110 at the HCMC Red Building, 730 South 8th Street, in Minneapolis.
October 9, 2025
The MMA, in partnership with the Wisconsin Medical Society, will lead a panel discussion titled "The Role of Medical and Professional Societies in Supporting Clinicians and Community Health" at the Transforming Community and Rural Healthcare 2025: Bold Innovation and Partnerships symposium, to be held on October 27-28, at the Mayo Civic Center in Rochester.
October 2, 2025
The federal government shutdown will affect the Minnesota healthcare system in several important ways.