Your Care Can’t Wait

Your Care Can’t Wait!It’s time to fix prior authorization in Illinois.

What is prior authorization?

Prior authorization (PA) is a cost management tool used by health insurance companies and other third-party payers in the healthcare system. It requires physicians to submit additional forms and documentation before the care they recommend for their patients will be approved for payment by the insurer.

The delays caused by this process can cause harm even if the PA request is ultimately approved. And when PA requests are denied, you may not be able to get the care you need at all. Your doctor can appeal, but this process is often difficult and time-consuming too, and may still result in a denial.

This site was published as a single-issue Illinois legislative campaign by the Illinois State Medical Society and a coalition of health organisations. The campaign ran through the 101st and 102nd General Assemblies; its pages are reproduced here as they were written, in their original wording.

Choose your route through the campaign

I am a health professional

“The Illinois State Medical Society (ISMS) is concerned that prior authorization (PA) is overused by health insurers and places unnecessary burdens on patients and physicians.”

I am a patient

“The delays caused by this process can cause harm even if the PA request is ultimately approved. And when PA requests are denied, you may not be able to get the care you need at all.”

Documents and Links

  • Access the ISMS White PaperReferenced document — file not preserved
  • Read the Coalition Position PaperReferenced document — file not preserved
  • View the Bill AnnouncementReferenced document — file not preserved
  • Bill Status of H.B. 711ilga.gov — 102nd General Assembly
  • Bill Status of S.B. 177ilga.gov — 102nd General Assembly

The full press list the campaign kept is on the News page.

Coalition Members

The eighteen organisations below were listed as coalition members on this site in 2020. The list is reproduced as an historical record. No current affiliation, membership or endorsement is claimed by or for any of them.

How the campaign asked to be contacted

The campaign published one address for stories about prior authorization: [email protected]. It is reproduced here as archived material and is not a contact route for this archive.

The campaign also ran a petition; that page is preserved at Petition as a record. No signature, subscription or personal detail is collected anywhere on this site.

Questions about this archive go to .