During the tenure of former President Donald Trump, a new rule was issued by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS), according to which the electronic exchange of health care data among payers, providers, and patients, and other streamlined processes related to prior authorization would improve in order to reduce the burden on both providers and patients. This rule would give providers more time to focus on their patients as well as help provide better quality care by increasing data flow and reducing burden.
You can review this rule at: https://www.cms.gov/files/document/121020-reducing-provider-and-patient-burden-cms-9123-p.pdf
The Comment Period on the burden reduction rule was closed on January 4, 2021.
Press Release: https://www.cms.gov/newsroom/press-releases/cms-proposes-new-rules-address-prior-authorization-and-reduce-burden-patients-and-providers
For further information related to the importance of these proposed changes, please visit blog post of CMS Administrator Seema Verma: https://www.cms.gov/blog/reducing-provider-and-patient-burden-and-promoting-patients-electronic-access-health-information
For more information on the CMS proposed rule, please visit: https://www.cms.gov/Regulations-and-Guidance/Guidance/Interoperability/index