From HHS asking insurers to pause prior authorizations in the wake of the change Healthcare cyberattack to a report finding that Medicare Part D plans have ramped up restrictions on prescription drugs, here are five updates on prior authorization Becker's has reported since Feb. 15:
1. HHS asked insurance companies to pause prior authorizations in the wake of the Change Healthcare cyberattack. AHIP, however, said suspending prior authorization could do more harm than good.
2. Medicare Part D plans have ramped up restrictions on prescription drugs since 2011, a study published in the March edition of Health Affairs found.
3. Illinois lawmakers have introduced a bill that would ban prior authorization for mental health medications for Medicaid patients. The introduction of the legislation comes after Gov. J.B. Pritzker called for state lawmakers to end prior authorization for mental healthcare. The bill would not affect patients with private insurance, however.
4. Medicare Advantage enrollees are more likely to report more prior authorization delays than their counterparts in traditional Medicare, according to a survey from the Commonwealth Fund.
5. A series of recent prior authorization policy wins has American Medical Association President Jesse Ehrenfeld, MD, optimistic that "momentum is building toward meaningful prior authorization reform."