Prior Authorization Reform Bill
The Improving Seniors' Timely Access to Care Act of 2022 (H.R. 8487) was passed by the House Ways and Means Committee on July 27, 2022. If passed, the legislation "would add requirements that would better regulate the use of prior authorization in Medicare Advantage plans." (source).
The committee stated that there is value in "reducing burden, improving access to care, and increasing administration efficiencies are all commonsense reforms..." according to Committee Chair Richard Neal (source). The legislation would require moving away from paper and fax authorization requests in favor of an electronic version.
The legislation is supported by many medical organizations, including AAMC (Association of American Medical Colleges). The Senate has introduced a companion bill (S. 3018).
While the legislation still has a way to go before being approved and implemented, it is a step forward in increasing efficiencies within medical offices and reducing the burden on staff.
Update:
As of December 2023, the Senate companion bill S. 3018 has been introduced, but not passed as of yet. (source: https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/senate-bill/3018)