Better Prior Authorization Notification Act

Bill: 115-hr-7249
Sponsor: full_name: Rep. Reed, Tom [R-NY-23]
Introduced: 2018-12-11
Policy area: Health
Subjects: Health care coverage and access

Health facilities and institutions

Medicare

Prescription drugs
Latest action: action_date: 2018-12-17
text: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.

Summaries:
action_date: 2018-12-11
action_desc: Introduced in House
text: <p><b>The Better Prior Authorization Notification Act</b></p> <p>This bill requires Medicare Advantage (MA) organizations to notify providers and enrollees about items and services that are subject to prior authorization requirements. MA organizations must also establish a hotline through which enrollees may inquire about such requirements.</p>

tv_txt: I 115th CONGRESS 2d Session H. R. 7249 IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES December 11, 2018 Mr. Reed introduced the following bill; which was referred to the Committee on Ways and Means , and in addition to the Committee on Energy and Commerce , for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned A BILL To amend title XVIII of the Social Security Act to provide for certain prior authorization notifications by Medicare Advantage organizations.

1. Short title This Act may be cited as the The Better Prior Authorization Notification Act . 2. Prior authorization notifications required to be made by Medicare Advantage organizations (a) Notification to providers and prescribers Section 1852(j) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–22(j) ) is amended by adding at the end the following: (8) Prior authorization notification For each plan year, beginning with plan year 2021, a Medicare Advantage organization offering an MA plan shall provide to physicians and other providers who are prescribers who have in effect for such plan year an agreement of participation with the organization— (A) at the beginning of such plan year, information (such as through a public website, mail, electronic communications, or payor’s web portal (as defined by the Secretary)) on items and services (which in the case of an MA–PD plan shall include covered part D drugs) covered under the plan that are subject to a prior authorization; and (B) before implementing any additional prior authorization requirement under the plan during such plan year applicable to such items or services, notification of such additional requirement. . (b) Notification to beneficiaries Section 1852(c) of the Social Security Act ( 42 U.S.C. 1395w–22(c) ) is amended by adding at the end the following new paragraph: (3) Prior authorization information (A) In general For each plan year, beginning with plan year 2021, a Medicare Advantage organization offering an MA plan shall provide (such as through a public website, mail, or electronic communication) to each enrollee in such plan, before implementing under the plan any new prior authorization requirement applicable to an item or service (which in the case of an MA–PD plan shall include covered part D drugs) offered under the plan that was utilized by the enrollee during the previous 12-month period (or such other period specified by the Secretary), notification of such additional requirement and information regarding an alternative to such item or service, if appropriate, that is not subject to a prior authorization requirement under the plan and that may have a lower out-of-pocket cost than the item or service subject to the prior authorization requirement. (B) Hotline Beginning with plan year 2021, a Medicare Advantage organization offering an MA plan shall maintain a hotline for enrollees in such plan to inquire about and receive information regarding prior authorization requirements under such plan. .