WASHINGTON — Jon Ossoff said Senate Republicans blocked his amendment aimed at preventing insurance companies from denying or delaying medically necessary care during an overnight budget debate.
According to Ossoff, the proposal sought to bar insurers from delaying or rejecting treatment deemed necessary by medical professionals. Senate Republicans opposed the amendment, preventing its adoption.
“Think of the retired Georgia teacher who had paid over $100,000 into a cancer policy only to be diagnosed with cancer and have her insurance claims denied,” Ossoff said on the Senate floor. He also cited a Monroe County mother of three who needed a liver transplant and faced a denial, as well as children across Georgia whose claims for care were rejected.
“This amendment will ensure that this legislation prevents insurance companies from denying or delaying medically necessary health care for the American people,” Ossoff said. “Let’s pass this amendment and protect Americans’ health care.”
Ossoff pointed to research from Johns Hopkins linking prior authorization requirements — in which patients must obtain insurer approval before receiving care — to worsening health outcomes, including preventable hospitalizations and lower survival rates.
Data from KFF shows the widespread impact of such practices. Nearly all seniors enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans require prior authorization for some services, and more than 4 million requests were denied in 2024.
KFF also reported that among roughly 85 million in-network claim denials under the Affordable Care Act that year, fewer than 1% were appealed. Patients often must either pay out of pocket despite having coverage or forgo care altogether.
The amendment’s failure leaves current prior authorization and claims denial practices unchanged as lawmakers continue debate over broader budget legislation.
