A Republican bill with 3 Democratic cosponsors · See all 6 cosponsors
Last activity — Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
The Prior Authorization Accountability Act seeks to increase transparency regarding medical claim denials. It requires group health plans and health insurance issuers to disclose specific data regarding prior authorization requirements. This data must be submitted to the Secretary and published on the plan or issuer's public website. The required information includes approval and denial rates, appeal outcomes, and processing times. Additionally, the bill requires disclosure of the use of automated technologies like artificial intelligence in making decisions. For plans offered through an Exchange, this information will be used as part of comparative information for enrollments.
Yes· 3 of 6
- Scored +6
Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices?
The bill requires health insurers to disclose denial rates, appeal outcomes, and the use of automated decision-making technology to consumers.
- Scored +4
Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act?
The bill enhances the functionality of the Health Insurance Exchange by providing more comparative data for plan enrollment.
- Scored +3
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
Increasing transparency around prior authorization and denial rates may improve consumer understanding of how to access care.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
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Increased Transparency of Denials: Plans and issuers must disclose the percentage and number of prior authorization requests approved or denied in an initial determination, categorized by item and service (Section 2, Subsection a, Paragraph 2).
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Insight into the Appeals Process: The bill requires disclosing the number of denied requests that were appealed and the number of those appeals that resulted in an approval (Section 2, Subsection a, Paragraphs 3 and 4).
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Visibility of Processing Times: Individuals can see the average and median amount of time it takes for a plan to reach a determination on a request (Section 2, Subsection a, Paragraph 5).
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Disclosure of Automated Decision-Making: The bill requires plans to disclose the percentage of requests approved or denied using technology such as artificial intelligence or machine learning, and to provide a description of that technology (Section 2, Subsection a, Paragraphs 6 and 7).
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Enhanced Plan Comparison for Exchanges: For qualified health plans offered through an Exchange, the most recent prior authorization information will be included as part of the comparative information used for enrollments starting in 2029 (Section 3).
Potential Negative Impacts for People
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Delayed Implementation: The transparency requirements regarding the submission and publication of information are not required to begin until plan years starting on or after January 1, 2027 (Section 2, Subsection a; Section 2, Subsection b; Section 2, Subsection c).
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Delayed Comparative Information for Exchanges: The inclusion of prior authorization information as part of comparative information for enrollments through an Exchange does not occur until plan years beginning on or after January 1, 2029 (Section 3).
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Healthcare
- Does this strengthen the Affordable Care Act? — The bill enhances the functionality of the Health Insurance Exchange by providing more comparative data for plan enrollment. Does this make health care easier to get in general? — Increasing transparency around prior authorization and denial rates may improve consumer understanding of how to access care.
- Economy And Finance
- Does this give people more protection from unfair business practices? — The bill requires health insurers to disclose denial rates, appeal outcomes, and the use of automated decision-making technology to consumers.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would households on low incomes be better off under this? — Improved information on health plans can assist low-income households in choosing more predictable coverage options. Would middle-income households be better off under this? — Increased transparency helps middle-income families better evaluate the value and reliability of their group health plans.
- Social Issues And Justice
- Is this likely to lift people out of poverty? — Greater transparency in insurance may prevent unexpected denials of care for low-income individuals.
- 10/6/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 7/21/2026
- 5 Cosponsors added.
- 6/25/2026
- Subcommittee Consideration and Mark-up Session Held
- Forwarded by Subcommittee to Full Committee by Voice Vote.
- 6/23/2026
- Referred to the Subcommittee on Health.
- Referred to the Committee on Energy and Commerce, and in addition to the Committees on Ways and Means, and Education and Workforce, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the jurisdiction of the committee concerned.
- Introduced in House
Robert BresnahanRepublican · Pennsylvania
Donald NorcrossDemocrat · New Jersey
August PflugerRepublican · Texas
Jimmy PanettaDemocrat · California
Kim SchrierDemocrat · Washington
Robert WittmanRepublican · Virginia