What They’re Saying: Rep. Green Fights for Medicare, Medicare Advantage Patients
WASHINGTON—This week, Rep. Mark Green, M.D. re-introduced his Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025, alongside Rep. Greg Murphy (R-NC) and Congressional Democratic Doctors Caucus Co-chair Kim Schrier, M.D. (D-WA) to address the use of prior authorization requirements in Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Part D prescription drug plans.
The Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act would reform the practice of prior authorization in Medicare and Medicare Advantage by requiring that board-certified physicians in the same specialty are the ones making these important decisions. It would also direct Medicare, Medicare Advantage, and Medicare Part D plans to comply with requirements that restrictions must be based on medical necessity and written clinical criteria, as well as additional transparency obligations.
What They’re Saying…
“The overuse of prior authorization is a persistent obstacle that prevents patients from receiving quality care from their physicians. Often, prior authorization requests are reviewed—and denied—by insurance company representatives who lack the medical expertise to appropriately judge what level of care is necessary for a patient. This welcome legislation would require the reviewers to be physicians with actual experience in the field of medicine they are passing judgment over. Our patients deserve no less.” -American Medical Association President Bruce A. Scott, M.D.
“The American College of Physicians strongly opposes prior authorization requirements that are overly burdensome and pull physician time away from where it should be, on caring for our patients. These bureaucratic delays in care are especially galling when decisions about needed care are not being reviewed by physicians who are trained and knowledgeable in that care. Reforms that seek to make the prior authorization process more transparent, like those proposed in the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025, are critical to ensuring that our nation’s seniors are able to access the care that they need when they need it most.” -Isaac O. Opole, MBChB, PHD, MACP, President, American College of Physicians
"The AOA appreciates Congressman Green’s effort to reintroduce the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act, which will help ensure patients can access the care their physician deems necessary. Osteopathic physicians take a patient-centered, whole-person approach to health care, yet overly burdensome prior authorization processes often create significant barriers to effective care delivery. To ensure a true peer-to-peer review, prior authorization reviews must be conducted accurately and exclusively by physicians within the same specialty, preventing unnecessary delays and ensuring patients receive the most appropriate care." -Teresa A. Hubka, DO, FACOOG (Dist.), American Osteopathic Association President
“The American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians (ACOFP) applauds Representative Green for re-introducing the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act. This critical legislation will put patients first and ensure that the doctor-patient relationship is preserved by addressing an insurer’s use of prior authorization requirements. This will ensure that physicians, including osteopathic family physicians, are the ultimate decision makers concerning their patient’s course of treatment, rather than insurers. The Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act will reduce delays in care and increase patient access to health care items and services, therefore improving health outcomes.” -Brian A. Kessler, DO, FACOFP (Dist.), President of the American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians
“The National Infusion Center Association (NICA) applauds Representative Mark Green's reintroduction of the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act of 2025. This critical legislation addresses the urgent need to reform prior authorization processes within Medicare and Medicare Advantage, ensuring that these vital decisions are made by qualified medical professionals with the necessary expertise. NICA firmly believes that patients deserve timely access to the treatments prescribed by their physicians, and this bill represents a significant step towards eliminating unnecessary barriers to care.”
Read the bill here.
Read more about the Reducing Medically Unnecessary Delays in Care Act here.
This bill was cosponsored by Reps. Joyce (PA), McCormick (GA), Harris (MD), and Burchett (TN).
This bill was endorsed by: American Medical Association, American Osteopathic Association, American College of Emergency Physicians, American College of Physicians, American Academy of Family Physicians, American College of Gastroenterology, American Academy of Otolaryngology, American Association of Orthopedic Surgeons, American College of Osteopathic Family Physicians, Oncology Nursing Society, Medical Group Management Association, National Infusion Center Association, Infusion Access Foundation, Alliance of Specialty Medicine, American Academy of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, American Academy of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, American Association of Neurological Surgeons, American College of Mohs Surgery, American Gastroenterological Association, American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery, American Society of Dermatologic Surgery Association, American Society of Echocardiography, American Society of Plastic Surgeons, American Society of Retina Specialists, American Urological Association, Coalition of State Rheumatology Organizations, Congress of Neurological Surgeons, National Association of Spine Specialists, Society of Interventional Radiology, Society for Cardiovascular Angiography and Interventions
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