Better Medicare Alliance Statement on CMS’ Final Prior Authorization and Interoperability Rule

BMA Applauds CMS’ Final Prior Authorization and Interoperability Rule, Which Will Streamline Care and Increase Transparency for Beneficiaries

Washington, D.C. – Better Medicare Alliance, the nation’s leading research and advocacy organization supporting Medicare Advantage, responded today to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services’ (CMS) final rule on prior authorization and interoperability:

“Better Medicare Alliance applauds CMS for its leadership in modernizing the prior authorization process and ensuring interoperability works for everyone. We believe these changes serve our shared goals of protecting prior authorization’s essential function in coordinating high-value care while also ensuring beneficiaries continue to receive the care they need when they need it,” said Mary Beth Donahue, President and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance. “We are particularly encouraged by the rule’s data exchange provisions, which will further improve communication between health plans, providers, and beneficiaries. We thank CMS for listening to feedback from Medicare Advantage stakeholders during the rulemaking process.”

This fall, BMA released a series of policy recommendations aimed at strengthening the Medicare Advantage program currently serving more than 31 million seniors and people with disabilities. As part of those recommendations, BMA called on policymakers to streamline and modernize the prior authorization process, and we continue our engagement with Congress in the passage of the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act.

Better Medicare Alliance is a community of more than one million grassroots beneficiaries and 200+ Ally organizations working to improve health care through a strong Medicare Advantage. Learn more at www.bettermedicarealliance.org.

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