Reps. Dunn and Barragán Introduce Bill to Ensure Timely Access to Care for Medicare Patients

WASHINGTON, D.C.-Yesterday, Congressman Neal Dunn (FL-02) and Congresswoman Nanette Barragán (CA-44) introduced H.R. 8500, the Ensuring Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act, bipartisan legislation aimed at improving Medicare patients' access to timely and appropriate care.

Currently, Medicare beneficiaries experience delays and unnecessary administrative hurdles in seeking coverage decisions through the local coverage determination process due to inconsistent standards and a lack of transparency. This legislation would increase stakeholder involvement, require timely completion of requests, and create a formal review process for reconsideration decisions.

"Americans on Medicare too often face unnecessary delays and red tape in seeking coverage determinations for needed care. This bipartisan legislation will work to ensure patients receive timely coverage decisions and improve access to quality care," said Congressman Dunn. "I thank Congresswoman Barragán for her work on this bipartisan legislation to bring fairness to Medicare coverage."

Congresswoman Barragán said, "Too often, seniors and people with disabilities face long delays or inconsistencies in Medicare covering innovative medical devices or treatments that could improve their quality of life. That is why I am co-leading the bipartisan Timely Access to Coverage Decisions Act with Congressman Dunn and Congresswoman Tenney, which would make the Medicare coverage decision process more timely, transparent, and better backed by clinical expertise. This bill is an important step to helping ensure Medicare enrollees can access the appropriate care they need, when they need it."

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