On the recordSeptember 14, 2022
I thank Representatives DelBene and Kelly for putting forth the timely Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act. Mr. Speaker, I would just like to explain to the public what pre- authorization means. I am a practicing physician, so if I order a test, I recommend a surgery, it then goes into a bucket at an insurance agency, and then we play the great waiting game. The patient is no longer in the office because we have no idea how long that waiting game is. It was put in and accepted for what I believe was a good cause. But as with many government programs, or institutions, or institutions of our bureaucracy in the private sector even, it is something that has gone bad and gone terribly wrong. I may be waiting 2 or 3 or 4 weeks to speak with somebody who is not my peer. I am a surgeon. I may be speaking with a pediatrician or, even more, I might be speaking with a nurse practitioner who has no experience whatsoever in my field of study to get their approval of something that I know needs to happen. It is an absolutely antiquated system that does not work. I am going to give you a couple of examples. Approximately 10 weeks ago, I saw a prostate cancer patient. There were two avenues to go on this: Either he needed to be operated on very quickly, or the cat was out of the bag, and he needed intensive chemotherapy quickly. A week goes by, 2 weeks go by. What is that patient doing at home?…
