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News
The American Medical Association is calling on CMS to uphold its January 1, 2027 deadline for electronic prior authorizations — and not let insurers off the hook. In a letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, AMA President John Whyte warned that payers are manufacturing excuses to delay, blaming low physician engagement while failing to provide the education and tools needed to drive adoption.
The American Medical Association (AMA) is urging CMS to stand firm on its January 1, 2027 deadline for electronic prior authorizations (ePA), pushing back against what it calls insurer-manufactured delays. In a September 18 letter to CMS Administrator Mehmet Oz, AMA President John Whyte argued that payers are citing low physician engagement to justify postponing the rule — while simultaneously failing to provide physicians with the education and support needed to actually use ePA systems.
Whyte called it a "catch-22": physicians are labeled unwilling adopters, yet health plans and EHR developers aren't giving them the tools or training to engage. The AMA is asking CMS to reject broad enforcement discretion in 2027 and instead push EHR developers to share implementation timelines and testing opportunities.
By the Numbers:
Why it matters: Electronic prior authorization has long been a pain point for physicians and patients alike. If CMS blinks on enforcement, the industry risks kicking a costly, burdensome process further down the road — delaying billions in savings and continued frustration at the point of care.
