WSHA staff testified at an October 3 Office of the Insurance Commissioner (OIC) stakeholder hearing and submitted written comments to OIC’s stakeholder draft rules regulating alternative authorization processes, otherwise known as “goldcarding.”
In its comments, WSHA urged the OIC to use a more generic term for the process and exclude separately regulated risk-based arrangements involving delegated utilization management. WSHA also urged OIC to avoid requirements that would create excessive burden on carriers and providers that could hinder adoption. WSHA strongly supports alternate authorization processes, as they have the potential to reduce cost and administrative burden for carriers and providers, and avoid delays in patient care that occur under standard prior authorization processes. (Andrew Busz)