MSDC and Coalition Request Prior Auth Hearing May 18, 2022
Written by MSDC Staff
Today, MSDC and a coalition of 17 other organizations requested that the Committee on Health hold a hearing on B24-655 (Prior Authorization Reform Act) before the Council's summer recess.
The bill would align DC with other states in reforming the prior authorization process and adopt common-sense reforms modeled by the American Medical Association and other national healthcare organizations. The bill lays out a minimum amount of time a prescription approval is valid, sets qualifications for payer personnel to make prior auth determinations, prohibits a prior auth for cost purposes, and more. The bill is one of MSDC's highest priorities and we have created an action site on the issue.
The letter (seen below) is joined by national and local healthcare, patient advocacy, and health reform organizations. The content is simple in asking for a hearing as the organizations involved have numerous stories on the impact of prior authorization on their members and patients. MSDC has some examples on its prior auth site.
How can you get involved in this issue?
Let MSDC know you want to get involved via our form
Contact your Councilmembers and tell them to support the bill
- Find your Councilmember here
- Use our talking points for your call, visit, or email
- Download, copy, and send our draft language to your Councilmembers
- Learn the best strategies for advocating on an issue by reading our articles here, here, here, and here.
- Download this brochure to provide to patients in your office.
Letter: