The American College of Rheumatology Applauds Insurers' Pledge to Scale Back Prior Authorization

ATLANTA – The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) commended the recent announcement from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) that insurers have pledged to scale back prior authorization policies and reduce the burden on providers to obtain approval before delivering certain medical services.

“Prior authorization increases barriers to care for rheumatology patients by delaying access to necessary treatments and amplifying administrative burdens for rheumatologists, leading to physician burnout, widespread delays and denials, all of which result in an increased risk of long-term health consequences for patients,” said Carol Langford, MD, MHS, president of the ACR. “We hope this pledge will indeed serve to increase timely access to care for patients by meaningfully reducing prior authorization obstacles, though the full impact of this measure remains to be seen.”

Insurance companies use prior authorization to control plan members’ access to specific pharmaceuticals and medical services. However, the process often involves multiple forms and administrative red tape, contributing to physician burnout and burdening care providers. The ACR has long advocated for measures to improve transparency, streamline the process, and overall reduce prior authorization requirements.

“We recognize that this is a pledge, not a mandate,” Langford continued. “Given this ambiguity, we also ask that lawmakers in Congress continue to work towards legislative solutions to codify prior authorization reform by passing measures like the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (S. 1816). The ACR is ready to partner with Congress and the administration to ensure the reforms are implemented quickly and effectively to improve patient care.”

Media Contact
Teri Arnold
tarnold@rheumatology.org

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About the American College of Rheumatology
The American College of Rheumatology (ACR) is an international medical society representing nearly 10,000 rheumatologists and rheumatology professionals with a mission to empower rheumatology professionals to excel in their specialty. In doing so, the ACR offers education, research, advocacy and practice management support to help its members continue their innovative work and provide quality patient care. Rheumatologists are experts in the diagnosis, management and treatment of more than 100 different types of arthritis and rheumatic diseases.