Care First Act: Please Contact your Representatives to Support this bill!

We are writing to urge you to take immediate action in advocating for prior authorization reform through the CARE FIRST Act. As clinicians dedicated to delivering the best care for our patients, it is essential that we continue to push for necessary changes to reduce administrative burdens and ensure timely, medically appropriate care.

The CARE FIRST Act proposes significant changes to the prior authorization process, addressing critical issues that impact patient care and the practice of medicine:

• Establishes Minimum Clinical Standards for prior authorization, ensuring that health insurers adopt criteria based on appropriate clinical guidelines rather than arbitrary measures.
• Requires Insurers to Consult with the Patient’s Clinician before denying medically necessary care, ensuring that clinical judgment and patient needs are central to decision-making.
• Sets Clear Time Frames for Care Reviews, mandating insurers to make timely decisions, especially when treatment is urgent, which is crucial in providing appropriate care without delays.
• Promotes Continuity of Care, allowing patients to stay with their treating providers throughout the course of care, reducing disruption in treatment and outcomes.
• Limits Retrospective Denials, ensuring that services already provided cannot be retrospectively denied without clear and justified reasons.
• Holds Insurers Accountable for denying medically necessary care, ensuring that health insurers cannot arbitrarily deny treatment that is vital to the patient’s health.

Contact Your State Representative!

Prior authorization remains one of the biggest barriers to providing timely, high-quality care. It causes unnecessary delays, disrupts continuity of care, and adds to the administrative burden that impacts your ability to focus on your patients. The CARE FIRST Act will help alleviate these challenges by ensuring that insurance companies act in the best interest of patients and uphold their responsibility to approve medically necessary care.

We need your voice to make a difference. Please contact your local legislators and urge them to support and co-sponsor the CARE FIRST Act. This is an opportunity to advocate for meaningful reform that will directly benefit your patients and improve the efficiency of care delivery.

Here’s how you can take action:

• Contact Your Legislators: Call, email, or schedule a meeting with your state Representatives and Senators. Explain how prior authorization delays affect patient care and the daily challenges you face as a provider.
• Share Your Story: Provide real-world examples of how prior authorization has delayed necessary care or created barriers for your patients.
• Encourage Support for the CARE FIRST Act: Stress the importance of supporting this reform to ensure insurers are accountable and that patient care is not compromised.

Together, we can make a significant difference in advancing prior authorization reform, improving care for our patients, and reducing unnecessary administrative burdens.

Thank you for your ongoing dedication to improving patient care and the healthcare system. Your involvement is crucial to ensuring the success of this reform.