On Wednesday, July 27, the House Ways and Means Committee marked up and passed out of committee the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173 / S. 3018). This Act aims to streamline prior authorization practices within the Medicare Advantage (MA) program by creating an electronic prior authorization process, holding MA plans accountable for the timeliness of determinations, improving transparency by requiring MA plans to report to CMS on the extent of their prior authorization use, and prohibiting additional prior authorization for added medically necessary services performed during an invasive procedure that already received prior authorization. Action on prior authorization is a top priority for the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) and has strongly supported this legislation—including the Advocacy Summit and Advocacy at Home asks. Thanks to the tireless work of ASCO volunteers, the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act has 309 cosponsors in the House and 39 in the Senate.

Please encourage your members to urge their lawmakers to act on prior authorization via the ACT Network.