State legislatures have been actively addressing the challenges posed by prior authorization in healthcare, with ten states passing significant reform laws in 2024 alone. These reforms, backed by state medical societies and the American Medical Association (AMA), aim to streamline the prior authorization process, reduce patient care delays, and enhance transparency. From Vermont to Oklahoma, these new laws seek to curb the growing volume of prior authorization requirements by ensuring that patients with chronic conditions don’t face unnecessary red tape, and by mandating quicker response times from insurers.  

Minnesota and Wyoming are leading examples of states that have taken strong measures to protect patient care. In Minnesota, recent legislation has removed prior authorization requirements for certain nonmedication aspects of cancer and mental health care, while also ensuring that prior authorizations for chronic conditions remain valid as long as the treatment remains unchanged. Wyoming has introduced a “gold card” program that exempts physicians with a strong approval track record from prior authorizations and requires insurers to respond to urgent requests within 72 hours.  

These state-level actions reflect a broader movement to safeguard patient access to timely care by reducing the burdens of prior authorization. While the specifics of each law vary, the common goal is clear: to prevent care delays and minimize the administrative load on both patients and healthcare providers. As more states consider similar reforms, these efforts set an important precedent for ensuring that prior authorization serves its intended purpose without compromising patient care.  

The ten states that have passed laws reforming the prior authorization process as of August 19, 2024, include Colorado, Illinois, Maine, Maryland, Minnesota, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Vermont, Virginia and Wyoming.