While federal lawmakers continue to weigh how to address the problem of prior authorization requirements that cause delays in the delivery of health care, many state governments are acting more decisively by implementing prior authorization reforms of their own.
This year, 10 states have enacted 18 laws designed to facilitate prior authorization of medical services and in 2023, nine states and the District of Columbia did so. In all, 23 states have introduced prior authorization reforms in recent years.
At the same time, some health insurers have reduced the number of medical services for which they require prior authorization. The problem is considered especially acute among Medicare Advantage plans.
Learn more about state efforts to address prior authorization challenges while awaiting broader federal reforms from the HealthLeaders article “States Are Tackling Prior Authorization Reform” and the Modern Healthcare article “Prior authorization targeted by more and more states” (password required).