Becker’s Hospital Review: AHA urges insurers, federal agencies to keep promise on prior authorization reforms

By: Elizabeth Casolo | September 30, 2025

The American Hospital Association is encouraging HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, MD, and insurers to follow through on prior authorization reforms.

In a letter to the CMS and HHS leaders, the AHA emphasized that 95% of hospitals said the time their staff spends on prior authorization approval has increased in the past year. As a result of prior authorization delays, amplified patient frustration is also weighing on providers.

The AHA outlined how health insurance plans can work toward their goals, including standardizing electronic prior authorization and limiting the claims subject to prior authorization.

“We encourage CMS to actively monitor plans’ progress to ensure they honor these commitments, including full implementation of existing regulations such as the Interoperability and Prior Authorization final rule and reforms issued in the 2024 Medicare Advantage final rule,” the letter said.

Despite CMS’ stated commitment to simplifying prior authorization, the agency shared in June that an AI-driven prior authorization pilot for traditional Medicare will launch in 2026.

This article was originally published on Becker’s Hospital Review.