The majority of states may act on insurer prior authorization practices in the coming year and even though the year is still only a month old, 16 states are already considering legislation to do so.

The desire to act on prior authorization comes as providers continue to express dismay over delays in insurer review of the courses of treatment they seek to initiate for their patients, with some providers maintaining that those delays are jeopardizing the well-being of those patients.

Insurers, meanwhile, insist that their reviews are necessary to ensure the health of their patients.

In response to such expressed concerns, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services late last year proposed revising some current prior authorization regulations.

Learn more about the prior authorization issue and what might be expected in the coming year from the Axios article “States jump into fight over prior authorization requirements.”