The House Ways and Means Committee advanced a package of bills during a July 15 markup, including the AAMC-supported Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514), which passed unanimously. The bill, led by Reps. Mike Kelly (R-Pa.) and Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.), would require Medicare Advantage (MA) plans to establish electronic prior authorization programs, increase transparency around plan decisions, and standardize administrative requirements to reduce delays in medically necessary care. The bill previously advanced out of the House Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee in June [refer to Washington Highlights, June 26].
The committee also advanced, in a 25-15 vote, the Health Care Price Certainty for All Americans Act (H.R. 9645), a sweeping transparency package introduced by Ways and Means Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) that would, among other transparency measures, require hospitals and health plans to publicly disclose prices. The committee also unanimously advanced the Medicare Advantage MLR Transparency Act (H.R. 9644), which would require MA plans to report more detailed medical loss ratio (MLR) information beginning in 2029.
- Washington Highlights