A bipartisan majority from both chambers of Congress is pressing the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to finalize a pending federal regulation that would overhaul prior-authorization requirements within Medicare Advantage.

“We urge CMS to promptly finalize and implement these changes to increase transparency and improve the prior-authorization process for patients, providers and health plans,” wrote the lawmakers. “We are pleased that these proposed rules align with the bipartisan, bicameral Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, which proposes a balanced approach to prior authorization in the [Medicare Advantage] program that would remove barriers to patients’ timely access to care and allow providers to spend more time treating patients and less time on paperwork.”

My latest for the AMA. The whole shebang.