Health insurers’ prior authorization promise: Will it help? | STAT

Tara Bannow covers hospitals, providers, and insurers. You can reach Tara on Signal at tarabannow.70.

WASHINGTON — Last week’s pledge from more than 40 health insurers to cut down on prior authorizations came after some behind-the-scenes convincing from the Trump administration. 

The administration pushed insurers to sign a voluntary pledge to cut back on prior authorizations and simplify the process, Health and Human Services Department Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. said Monday. 

The pledge came from two major insurance industry lobbying groups, America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, and member insurers who together cover almost 260 million Americans.