Thread by @MarilynHeineMD

1/ ⁦@AmerMedicalAssn⁩ submitted comments to ⁦@CMSGov⁩ regarding a NPRM on provider burden reduction and #priorauthorization: tinyurl.com/y5ebobkf

The NPRM cited #OurAMA prior authorization survey data and grassroots website FixPriorAuth.org

2/ The rule proposes policies to help make the prior authorization process more efficient and transparent.

The NPRM would require #Medicaid, CHIP, and federally facilitated health exchange plans to:

•Support technology that would convey #priorauthorization requirements

3/ The NPRM would also require impacted payers to:

•Automate the exchange of supporting clinical data from physicians’ #EHR workflow

•Publicly report data on #priorauthorization programs and comply with processing timeframes

4/ @AmerMedicalAssn:

•Commended @CMSGov for addressing #priorauth burdens
•Urged these requirements be extended to Medicare Advantage plans to benefit more patients
•Encouraged CMS to allow for adequate testing of technology it proposes before requiring its use in regulation

5/ While the NPRM focuses on #priorauthorization, it also includes a proposal to require impacted payers to request an attestation on #privacy policies from third-party #apps facilitating patient access to claims and certain clinical information.

6/ Such attestations would require third-party #app developers to indicate their adherence to industry-developed best practices around #privacy and #data sharing.

7/ @AmerMedicalAssn advocated for @CMSGov and @ONC_HealthIT to include such attestations in their patient access and #interoperability regulations, which were finalized in 2020:

ama-assn.org/practice-manag…

8/ Neither agency did so in the latter final rules, but this new NPRM builds on CMS’ prior final rule & proposes a #privacy attestation policy.

AMA commented in support of this proposal; urged ONC to adopt a similar requirement to bolster transparency & trust in emerging #tech.