Senate Bill 2280 prior authorization reform will be signed into law Wednesday at 4:15 pm by Gov. Armstrong. For the more than 4,500 North Dakotans who will be diagnosed with cancer in 2025, medical prior authorization can delay treatment, increase stress and have a negative impact on care. Senate Bill 2280 establishes standards and transparency to prior authorization processes, helping those in need of critical medical care avoid prolonged delays in treatment.

Physicians report the process can lead to significant delays in care, contributing to negative outcomes in patients, including abandoned treatment. The process was once used sparingly by insurers to determine whether costly medical procedures or medications were needed but has devolved into a system requiring providers get approval to prescribe even the most routine medications and procedures. The bill’s primary sponsor was Sen. Scott Meyer (Grand Forks) with Sens. Jeff Barta (Grand Forks), Brad Bekkedahl (Williston) and Sean Cleary (Bismarck) co-sponsoring in the Senate and Reps. Jonathan Warrey (Casselton) and Jon Nelson (Rugby) in the House.

For more information on how ACS CAN is advocating for cancer patients, survivors and their families on the local, state and federal levels, visit: https://www.fightcancer.org/states/north-dakota – Shawn O’Neal American Cancer Society