New CMS rule strengthens various Medicare Advantage elements

A new Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services rule designed to strengthen Medicare Advantage is generating positive feedback for its proposal to streamline the prior authorization process, expand access to behavioral health care, make prescription drugs more affordable and stop misleading advertising, reports Healthcare Dive. Among other changes, the rule released Dec. 14 would revise prior authorization requirements to reduce disruption for enrollees, so that an approval would remain valid for a full course of treatment.