Policy & oversight
House Panel Approves Medicare Advantage Prior Authorization Reform Bill 42 to 0
The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act cleared the House Ways and Means Committee unanimously, setting strict federal timelines and an electronic approval process for Medicare Advantage plans.
By the Goodsurance editorial teamJuly 14, 2026
The House Committee on Ways and Means voted 42 to 0 on July 15, 2026, to advance the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act, H.R. 3514, to the full House, the farthest the bill has progressed in Congress. The measure would codify federal prior authorization standards for Medicare Advantage plans into statute. Plans would be required to process standard prior authorization requests within seven calendar days and urgent requests within 72 hours. All plans would need to transition to an electronic prior authorization system meeting federal interoperability standards, so providers can submit requests through their existing health record software. Medicare Advantage plans would also submit annual data to CMS on the share of requests approved, the share denied, and average processing times, with CMS required to publish those figures. An amendment adopted during the markup delayed the effective date for most requirements to January 1, 2029, or later. Before the vote the bill had drawn 290 House co-sponsors, a broad bipartisan coalition. Nursing home and hospital associations praised the unanimous outcome. The bill awaits floor action by the full House.
A House committee voted 42 to 0 to require faster, electronic prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. Here is what could change for the millions enrolled in these plans.
In plain words
A House committee voted 42 to 0 to move a bill forward that would change how Medicare Advantage plans handle prior authorization. Prior authorization is when a plan requires approval before paying for a health service. The bill would require plans to decide most requests within seven days and urgent ones within 72 hours. Plans would also need to use an electronic system. The bill still needs a full House vote to become law.
Understand the basics first
Source: House Committee on Ways and Means
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