An example of ASCO's advertising on Politico's website.
UPDATE: On September 14, 2022, the House of Representatives passed the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173) by voice vote on the House floor. The bill now moves to the Senate. This remains a critical moment when your Senators need to hear your support for this legislation. Please ask them to pass this bill into law—it takes seconds using the ACT Network.
On June 20, 2022, the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) launched an advertising campaign in Politico—a leading political publication that is widely read on Capitol Hill—urging lawmakers to pass a prior authorization reform bill to help protect patient access to timely cancer treatment. The Association and its members are also reaching out to lawmakers on social media and using the ACT Network to urge swift passage of the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3173/S. 3018).
The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act will help streamline prior authorization within Medicare Advantage (MA) by creating an electronic prior authorization process in MA, holding MA plans accountable for the timeliness of determinations, and requiring MA plans to report on the extent of their prior authorization use. A recent federal report found that 13% of prior authorization denials in MA met Medicare fee-for-service coverage rules. Eight cases in the report were related to cancer care, six of which were denied based on incorrect determinations, clerical errors, incorrect data review, etc.
Ways you can help advance prior authorization reform include:
- Urge your Members of Congress to pass the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act through ASCO’s ACT Network. It takes only seconds to send your message!
- Post on social media about prior authorization, the need for reform, or why you’re urging Congress to pass this legislation. Be sure to use #FixPriorAuth and #ASCOAdvocacy.
- Tell ASCO how prior authorization has impacted your patients or your practice. We will use these stories to support our advocacy efforts. Email your stories to priorauth@asco.org.
Thank you for participating in these important efforts.
Visit ASCO in Action for updates, as well as news, advocacy, and analysis on cancer policy.
