HHS pilot program raises Democratic concerns over Medicare red tape

House Democrats are sounding the alarm and demanding more information about a new Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) demonstration they say will increase red tape by adding prior authorization requirements in Medicare.

Led by Reps. Suzan DelBene (D-Wash.) and Ami Bera (D-Calif.), a group of 17 Democrats questioned why HHS would want to test adding prior authorization requirements in traditional Medicare when the Trump administration is touting efforts to reduce the practice in Medicare Advantage (MA).

Traditional Medicare has rarely required prior authorization, but private MA plans have come under fire for relying on the controversial practice as a tool to increase profits.

“The Trump Administration publicly recognized the harm of prior authorization…And yet, not a week after