Sen. Scott Meyer presents watered-down prior-authorization amendments; committee schedules more work

State Sen. Scott Meyer, sponsor of legislation aimed at reforming prior authorization, presented two pages of amendments to Senate Bill 22 80 at the Senate Industry and Business Committee meeting, saying the changes strike compromises with insurers while preserving an enforcement mechanism.

Meyer (Scott Meyer, state senator, District 18, Grand Forks) told the committee the amended bill lengthens prior-authorization decision timelines, narrows some original protections and exempts certain state programs while keeping an “auto authorization” enforcement provision. "What you have before you, mister chairman, and members of the committee is a bill that is far more watered down than the patients, physicians, pharmacists, hospitals, mental health advocates would have hoped. However, it is a bill that still makes a meaningful down payment on prior authorization reform," Meyer said.

The amendment package increases decision timelines from the bill’s earlier draft: urgent services would require a decision within 72 hours and nonurgent services within seven calendar days, aligning those deadlines with federal…