{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bipartisan-bill-tackle-overuse-and-abuse-prior", "Rep. Kennedy Introduces Bipartisan Bill to Tackle Overuse and Abuse of Prior Authorization", "2025-09-25", "2025", "2025-09", "Republican", "House", "UT", "Mike Kennedy", "K000403", "mikekennedy.house.gov", "mikekennedy", "https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON, DC \u2014 Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03), along with Congresswoman Julie Johnson (TX-32), introduced the bipartisan Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act, which limits prescription drug prior authorizations used by Medicare Advantage and stand-alone Part D plans to once per year for patients with autoimmune diseases or blood disorders.\n\nPrior authorization requires physicians to get permission from a patient\u2019s insurance company before the patient can get certain treatments or medications. If the insurance company does not approve it, the patient\u2019s insurance will not pay for the medication or treatment. For patients with lifelong conditions like MS, rheumatoid arthritis, or type 1 diabetes, the process just creates unnecessary delays, stress, and paperwork.\n\n\u201cThe Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act takes a simple step to make Medicare Advantage work better for patients,\u201d said Congressman Mike Kennedy (UT-03). \u201cBy ensuring coverage of critical drugs and limiting prior authorization to once per year, we cut down on needless bureaucracy and give patients the certainty they deserve. This bipartisan reform is about streamlining the system so people can focus on their health, not paperwork.\"\n\n\u201cPatients battling chronic autoimmune diseases and blood disorders should not have to fight insurance companies just to access the treatments their doctors prescribe,\u201d said Johnson. \u201cRequiring repeated prior authorizations for lifelong conditions does not make care safer\u2014it makes it harder. It forces patients to wait for treatment, drives up costs, and puts their health at risk. Our bipartisan bill cuts through this red tape by ensuring only one prior authorization is required each year, so patients can focus on managing their health instead of filling out mounds of paperwork. This is about fairness, common sense, and making sure people get the care they need when they need it.\u201d\n\nThe bill has secured endorsements from the American Medical Association (AMA), Autoimmune Association, American Society for Gastrointestinal Endoscopy, American College of Osteopathic Internists, American Academy of Physician Associates, and Texas Medical Association.\n\n\u201cReforming prior authorization in Medicare Advantage is essential to protecting timely access to high-quality care and reducing the administrative burdens that contribute to physician burnout,\u201d said AMA President Bobby Mukkamala, M.D. \u201cAlarmingly, the American Medical Association found that more than one in four physicians report prior authorization has led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care. Patients living with chronic autoimmune and blood disorders are especially vulnerable to the delays and denials associated with frivolous prior authorization requirements. America\u2019s physicians applaud Reps. Julie Johnson and Mike Kennedy, M.D., for championing this bipartisan, common-sense legislation to put patients before paperwork.\u201d\n\n\u201cThe Autoimmune Association, which advocates for more than 50 million Americans, is pleased to support the Patient Access to Autoimmune Treatments Act,\u201d said Molly Murray, President and CEO, Autoimmune Association. \u201cThe prior authorization process is unpredictable and places an immense burden on both patients and providers. For patients, delays caused by prior authorization can lead to permanent disease progression. We appreciate Congresswoman Johnson\u2019s and Congressman Kennedy\u2019s unwavering leadership addressing this harmful insurance practice.\u201d", 1, "2026-03-30T01:40:41Z", "2026-04-06T19:10:29Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://mikekennedy.house.gov/media/press-releases/rep-kennedy-introduces-bipartisan-bill-tackle-overuse-and-abuse-prior"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8598696440458298, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}