Mason Backed Law Holds Health Insurers Accountable, Expands Access to Care

GURNEE, Ill. – State Rep. Joyce Mason, D-Gurnee, co-sponsored legislation recently signed into law to reduce authorization delays and denials of medically necessary procedures as part of her work to hold insurance companies accountable. 

“Too often people are forced to delay vital medical procedures while they wait for their insurance companies to determine if they are going to cover it,” said Mason. “These delays can be life threatening and need to come to an end.”

The Mason backed House Bill 711, recently signed into law, creates new timelines for insurance companies to authorize both urgent and non-urgent procedures, equipment, and treatment. The law also sets standards for the clinical review criteria that companies determine the medical necessity. Insurance providers will also be required to publish statistics on prior authorization, approvals, and denials. This will create a smoother, more transparent approval process for both urgent and non-urgent procedures.  

“When it comes to health insurance, we need to put people over profits, not the other way around,” said Mason. “By reforming the prior authorization process, we are protecting consumers and helping ensure people receive the treatment they need in a timely manner.”

###