Healey sets out to slash health care red tape
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As Massachusetts residents struggle with increasing health care costs, Gov. Maura Healey is trying to take a cleaver — not a scalpel — to the insurance bureaucracy that can delay patient care.
Why it matters: Healey, flanked by legislative leaders, announced a plan to eliminate prior authorization requirements for some essential services.
The big picture: Administrative hurdles like prior authorization — where insurers must pre-approve treatments — have long been a burden on doctors and patients.
- According to Healey, authorization delays can prevent urgent care and sometimes drive up costs.
State of play: Healey's Division of Insurance is issuing new regulations to immediately streamline some practices:
- Prior authorization won't be required for emergency care, primary care visits, chronic disease management or mental health admissions.
- A 24-hour turnaround from insurers is now required for urgent requests.
- New continuity protections aim to ensure patients don't lose access to treatments when they switch insurance plans.
It's a move to reduce administrative waste and let doctors focus on care instead of paperwork.
What they're saying: "We've got to find a way to rein in cost, to make health care more affordable and to make it easier," Healey said at a State House event announcing the plan.
- Massachusetts Medical Society president Dr. Olivia Liao said in a statement that the changes "will have a meaningful impact by reducing delays, ensuring continuity of care for patients, and alleviating physician burnout."
Threat level: The Massachusetts health care industry spent $1.3 billion on administrative costs related to prior authorization in 2023, according to Healey's office.
- That's a 30% spike over the previous year.
Between the lines: Cutting red tape addresses some of the friction in health care access and doesn't hurt Healey's political profile ahead of a reelection cycle expected to focus primarily on everyday household costs.
Of note: Healey also announced a working group focused on healthcare costs co-chaired by former state Health and Human Services Secretary Kate Walsh and Citizens Bank Massachusetts President Lisa Murray.
- They're charged with finding concrete ways to lower systemic health costs for families and businesses.