HB 3459 (2021) & HB 3812 (20215)
The Texas Legislature Solved the Challenge of Unnecessary Prior Authorizations
Unnecessary Prior Authorizations Should Not Stand Between Patients And Physicians
Data show that approximately one percent of prior authorization requests are ultimately denied by insurers. Unfortunately, prior authorization requests simply serve as an unnecessary barrier between patients and their physicians.
Texas’ 2021 prior authorization gold card law (HB 3459) and the 2025’s subsequent law (HB 3812) work together to reduce unnecessary prior authorizations for patients.
The 2021 Texas “gold card” law serves as the model for prior authorization reform in other states and at the federal level.
Prior Authorization Reform
The Numbers
90%
Threshold for Prior Authorization Exemption Under the Texas Law
100%
All 31 Texas Senators Voted for the Gold Card Law
2
Two gold card laws passed by the Texas Legislature in 2021 and 2025.
Washington
Federal Activity
2024 Rule
Medicare Advantage
HR 8702
2024 Legislation
HR 3173
Second Medicare Advantage Bill
2024 Washington Activity
Final Rule and Congressional Legislation
Final Rule: January 2024
- Click here to learn more.
Legislation: HR 8702
- Click here to learn more.
TOA members can check their e-mails updates to learn about how the federal proposals affect different types of health plans.
The 2021 Texas Law: HB 3459
The Provisions
Gold Card: 10.1.22
- Physicians who are approved for a particular service at least 90 percent of the time during a six-month evaluation period will be exempt for that service under the new law.
- The six-month evaluation period went into effect on January 1, 2022. The Texas Department of Insurance released the final rule.
Peer Reviews by Texas Physicians
- Before an adverse determination is made, the law requires a peer to peer in which health plans must use physicians who are licensed in the state of Texas.
- The reviewer must have the “same or similar speciality” as the physician who is subject to a review.
Click here to view the 2021 Texas Law.
Click here to view the Texas Department of Insurance’s August 15, 2022, final rule.
TOA members can check their e-mails for TOA’s summary.
View the Texas Department of Insurance’s September 2022 webinar to explain the law.
View the Texas Department of Insurance’s FAQ on the gold card.
Gold card exemptions: Visit the “Health Plan Prior Authorization Statistics” to visit each plan’s website to learn more.
2019 Texas Law: SB 1742
Prior Authorization Transparency & New Utilization Review Requirements
Prior Authorization Transparency
- The law requires health plans to post a detailed description of the prior authorization process and procedures and a list of the supporting documentation that physicians are required to provide.
Website Notice for Each PA Requirement
- Effective date.
- List of supporting documentation required.
- Applicable screening criteria (codes).
- Statistics regarding PA approval and denial rates in the preceding calendar year. These include denials overturned on internal appeal and denials overturned by an IRO.
Click here to read the 2019 Texas Law.
Click here to read the TDI Commissioner’s Bulletin, which summarizes the UR and adverse determination law from 2019.
UR Agents & Adverse Determinations
- Click here to read the TDI Commissioner’s Bulletin from 2019, which summarizes the state’s rules and laws related to utilization review and adverse determinations.
Of the Same or Similar Specialty
- All utilization reviews for services ordered by a physician must be reviewed by a licensed physician.
- Specialty physicians have the option of requesting that a denial or a denial of an appeal be reviewed by a physician of the same or similar specialty.
Health Plan Prior Authorization Statistics: 2019 Law
2019 Texas Law: HB 3041
Prior Authorization Renewal Requests
60-Day Renewal of an Existing PA
- A physician may request the renewal of an existing prior authorization for at least 60 days before it expires.
Click here to read the law.
