Employers Endorse Extending E-Prior Authorization to Self-Funded Plans
CMS announced that a group of large employers has voiced support for expanding electronic prior authorization requirements to self-funded health plans, which are not currently covered under CMS's prior authorization reform initiatives. The move signals employer interest in aligning self-funded plan practices with the electronic prior authorization standards CMS has pushed for Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care, and ACA marketplace plans. No new rule or mandate accompanies this announcement; it reflects stakeholder support that could inform future federal action. Medicaid managed care plans already subject to related CMS interoperability and prior authorization rules may see this as momentum toward broader industry-wide standardization.