Political Quotes

“Mr. Speaker, I rise in strong support of my colleague, Representative DelBene's bill, the Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act. I have heard from countless patients in my southern California district whose care has been delayed for weeks and, in some cases, outright denied because of countless barriers and archaic approval methods. And I have heard directly from physicians who are at their wits end, unable to provide the care they know will help their patients because of endless red tape. The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act makes thoughtful and much-needed improvements to the Medicare system to correct these problems. The bill before us today will promote modernization of the prior authorization system to speed up approvals of routine procedures. It moves the system of prior authorization into the 21st century, away from fax machines and toward electronic approval methods. By shortening the window by which insurance plans must respond to a prior authorization request, the bill will ensure patients get the care they need when they need it. I urge my colleagues to support this important legislation.”