LIVE: Prior Authorization reform to be debated in North Dakota Legislature

FARGO, N.D. (KVRR) — For many patients battling cancer, time can mean everything. But due to insurance rules around prior authorization, some patients run out of time.

That is a problem that is being looked at in the North Dakota Legislature with a bill that seeks to provide transparency and standardization to the authorization process.

The bill would also require insurance companies to provide prior authorization or reject the treatment within 24 hours of receiving necessary information.

One woman testifying in support of the bill says that her cousin waited on urgent cancer treatment for over a week while her insurance company made its decision.

“At the end of December, I know the prior authorization had been submitted. And we didn’t get an okay on that until January 10th… That was a Friday, and they said they didn’t have the right people to sign off on it, and so we had to wait until at least monday. She didn’t have that time.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota has come out against the legislation. Bakkum will testify to the legislature on Monday.