ASCO Applauds House Energy and Commerce Committee Vote Advancing Prior Authorization Reform Bill; Calls for Full Floor Vote

 

Alexandria, VA—July 21, 2026—Today, the House Committee on Energy and Commerce voted to advance the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act (H.R. 3514/S. 1816), bipartisan legislation that would streamline prior authorization in Medicare Advantage. This follows passage in the House Committee on Ways and Means on July 15. The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) applauds the committees for advancing the bill and urges passage on the House floor.

ASCO has long advocated for prior authorization reform. Our recent member survey found that nearly all participants report having patients who have experienced harm because of prior authorization processes, including delays in treatment (96%) and disease progression (80%).

A statement from Robin T. Zon, MD, FACP, FASCO, Board Chair of the Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO) follows:

“ASCO applauds today’s vote in the House Energy and Commerce committee and last week’s vote in Ways and Means passing the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act. With the support of 297 House cosponsors, and over 300 supporting organizations, this is widely supported bipartisan health legislation, and we strongly encourage House leadership to pass the bill.

The Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act would establish essential patient safeguards such as faster prior authorization decision timeframes and much needed transparency by requiring payers to provide specific reasons for rejections.

We know that people with cancer need the right treatment at the right time to have the best possible outcome. We also know that any delay in cancer care, which prior authorization too often causes, can lead to irreversible disease progression.

It is past time for Congress to pass bipartisan, common-sense prior authorization reform that improves cancer care nationwide.”

This press release was originally published July 21, 2026, by The Association for Clinical Oncology (ASCO), a 501 (c)(6) organization that represents more than 50,000 oncology professionals who care for people living with cancer.