Massachusetts to remove many prior authorizations, create affordability working group to speed care

Governor Healy announced new state regulations aimed at reducing delays in care by eliminating prior authorization requirements for a broad set of routinely approved treatments and equipment and by convening a health care affordability working group to recommend further reforms.

The regulations, filed this week, will remove prior-authorization requirements for “a wide range of medical drugs, services, and equipment,” the governor said, listing primary care, emergency care, chronic disease management, vaccines, reproductive and maternity care, physical therapy and substance-use services among the categories affected. “We're getting rid of prior authorization for a whole bunch of situations,” she said.

The administration also said plans must respond to urgent prior-authorization requests within…