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AAPM&R-Endorsed Legislation Clears Congressional Hurdle

Jun 25, 2026

The American Academy of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AAPM&R) is encouraged by recent progress towards enacting the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514/S. 1816) into law. Enacting this legislation is a key advocacy priority for the Academy, aimed at reforming overly burdensome prior authorization requirements under the Medicare Advantage (MA) program. 

This priority legislation advanced through the U.S. House of Representatives Committee on Energy and Commerce’s Subcommittee on Health on June 25, 2026, an important procedural step in the legislative process that advances the bill toward broader consideration in Congress. While this step does not finalize passage, it signals continued bipartisan momentum and brings the legislation closer to consideration by the full House.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act has emerged as one of the most widely supported bipartisan health care proposals in the 119th Congress, with 295 House cosponsors and 71 cosponsors in the Senate. It has also been endorsed by more than 300 national and state organizations representing patients, physicians, and other healthcare stakeholders.  

Take two minutes today to urge your congressional representatives to support the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act and protect access to care for your Medicare Advantage patients. 


Addressing Prior Authorization Barriers 

AAPM&R has long supported this legislation since it was first introduced as part of its broader advocacy to remove barriers to accessing care for patients and to reduce burden on PM&R physicians.  

The Academy has also worked in collaboration with the Regulatory Relief Coalition (RRC), a group of national physician specialty organizations advocating for regulatory burden reduction in Medicare since 2022 to champion this legislative priority. 

Recent reports issued by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Inspector General have illustrated that overly burdensome prior authorization requirements in MA plans continue to create delays and barriers to medically necessary care for patients requiring rehabilitation services.  

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would implement common-sense reforms to streamline these processes, including: 

  • Codifying into law electronic prior authorization programs with the ability to deliver real-time decisions for routinely approved services 

  • Increasing transparency through public reporting on approval rates and response times 

  • Strengthening oversight and standards related to the timeliness and quality of determinations 

AAPM&R Advocacy Continues 

AAPM&R has consistently focused on reducing burden on physicians, and improving access to healthcare for your patients, through Hill Day advocacy, grassroots campaigns and coalition engagement. Click here to learn more about the Academy’s work on this issue. 

AAPM&R will continue working with congressional leaders and coalition partners to advance the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act and ensure that Medicare Advantage patients have reliable access to medically necessary care.