H.R. 8702 · 118th Congress

Sets electronic prior-approval and reporting rules for Medicare Advantage plans

Official title: Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act of 20241

Never got a floor voteMedicare Advantage

§1What it does

Why this matters: A plain-English description of the bill as it was voted on, written by us from the official summary and text.

Drafted by AI from the public sources cited. Each sentence links to its source.

This bill would require Medicare Advantage plans to handle prior authorization, the advance approval they can require before covering certain care, through a secure electronic system starting in 2027.2,3 Starting in 2026, plans would have to report each year which services required prior approval, how many requests they approved and denied, how many denials were appealed and overturned, how long decisions took, and whether they used artificial intelligence or similar technology, with the data published plan by plan.3 The Department of Health and Human Services could set deadlines for plans to respond to requests, such as 24 hours, and plans would have to meet enrollee protection standards, including yearly reviews of which services require prior approval.3

§2Status

StatusLatest action, December 17, 2024: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.1
IntroducedJune 12, 2024
SponsorRep. Kelly, Mike [R-PA-16]
Cosponsors231 cosponsors (140 Democratic, 91 Republican)
Official recordH.R. 8702 on Congress.gov

§3It never got a vote

Why this matters: This bill had wide support from both parties, but it never reached the House or Senate floor, so no member of Congress was ever recorded voting for or against it.

Latest action, December 17, 2024: Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.1 How bills die without a vote.

2026 candidates who sponsored or cosponsored it (164)