Capitol Comments Articles
House Insurance Committee Hears Bill on Prior Authorization

Prior Authorization (Feb. 21, 2023) – Today, the House Insurance Committee, chaired by Representative Bill Sutton (R-Gardner), held a hearing on House Bill 2283. House Bill 2283 requires transparency in prior authorization.

Proponents included:

  • Chad Austin, Kansas Hospital Association
  • Samer Antonios, MD, Ascension Via Christi
  • Steven Stites, MD, The University of Kansas Health System
  • Angela Johnson, RN, Memorial Health System
  • Daniel Nielson, DDS, Kansas Dental Association
  • Wayne Gilmore, MD, Kansas Optometric Association
  • Jennifer Loucks, KCHSP

Virtual testimony was received from:

  • Doug Gruenbacher, MD, Quinter
  • Dena Hubbard, MD, pediatrician

Opponents were:

  • Mathew Ness, eciCore Healthcare on behalf of Cigna, testified virtually that much clinical care is unnecessary. Wasteful health care spending in 2019 was estimated at $935 billion dollars. Ness shared that gold card legislation means that 10 percent of the time, patients aren't getting the right care. Cigna wants to work with providers on the administrative burden.
  • Johnathan Buxtom, Pharmaceutical Care Management Association, also stated PCMA wants to work with proponents over the summer to resolve issues.
  • Andrew Wiens, Kansas Employers for Affordable Healthcare, highlighted costs must be kept low.
  • Alexander Sommer, Prime Therapeutics, emphasized prior authorization is a valuable tool. He pointed out it is a helpful tool in making sure people don't get addicted to opioids.
  • Sunee Mickle, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, testified that Kansas has utilization review laws in place, with rules and regulations currently enforced by the Kansas Insurance Commissioner. Mickle expressed BCBSKS takes the prior authorization process very seriously and wants to work with providers; however, they don't receive complaints about the process during their annual meetings with hospitals.

The committee members asked for additional details surrounding regulatory oversight by the Kansas insurance commissioner. They also requested a comparative state-by-state analysis of what laws exist in other states regarding prior authorization.

The committee also worked House Bill 2325. The legislation adds maternity center to the definition of "health care provider" for the purpose of the availability of health care provider insurance.