During the 2023 legislative session, APTAMD  focused a lot of energy on legislation introduced and supported by a Coalition of over 52 medical provider groups and associations from physicians to nurses to mental health providers.  Maryland has current law that attempts to make insurers prior authorization policies transparent and functional. 

The legislation we helped to introduce (House Bill 305/Senate Bill 308) would have improved the prior authorization process by adding transparency, aligning standards, and increasing accountability of the insurers.  APTA MD leadership and members provided testimony in writing, in person and via zoom at the bill hearings, making a compelling case for reform.  The opposition from the insurance companies was intense, and efforts to reach areas of compromise during the session did not succeed. 

The Senate Finance Committee Chairwoman and the House Heath and Government Operations Chairwoman issued a letter directing the healthcare provider Stakeholders to convene meetings over the Summer and Fall with the insurance carriers to examine the issues raised and identify possible solutions. 

While the bills did not pass during the 2023 Session, the work over these next few months before the 2024 Session will be important. Let us know if you are interested in being a part of our campaign to make it easy for patients and providers to provide their stories as we work to reintroduce legislation in 2024 to reduce administrative burden. This could include putting up a poster or postcards in your waiting room with a QR code, testifying at a bill hearing, uploading a short video, etc. Sign up to be a part of prior auth advocacy below.