As ophthalmologists in Anchorage, we have witnessed the toll that delays in care have taken on patients and their families. That’s why we are proud to join our fellow physicians in celebrating the recent passage of SB 133 – a major step forward in protecting patients and improving care delivery systems for physicians.
SB 133, which recently became law, will streamline access to care by limiting prior authorization — an administrative hurdle that often delays or denies Alaskans’ access to medically necessary care. Now, patients will be better able to get the care their doctors prescribe. This legislation is long overdue, as it will increase transparency, hold insurers accountable, and help physicians spend more face time with patients and less time doing burdensome, and oftentimes duplicative, paperwork.
Prior authorization can have devastating impacts on patients. According to a survey from the American Medical Association, 93% of physicians report that prior authorization has led to a delay in access to care for patients, and more than one in four physicians report that prior authorization has led to a serious adverse event for a patient in their care.
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For ophthalmology patients in particular — many of whom are managing chronic, progressive conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy — unnecessary disruptions or denials of care can potentially have life-altering consequences. Under the new law, prior authorizations for chronic conditions will be valid for at least 12 months and automatically renewed if the treatment remains unchanged – a game-changer for patients who need regular eye injections or long-term medication to preserve their sight.
We sincerely thank the Alaska State Legislature and Gov. Dunleavy for their support to physicians to improve access to care for patients from Utqiagvik to Juneau.
We would also like to thank our colleagues with the Alaska State Medical Association. For the past few years, physicians from across the state have spoken out, met with lawmakers, and shared firsthand stories about how prior authorization has harmed their patients.
Between workforce limitations, increasing costs and administrative burdens, clinics are already stretched thin. The prior authorization process is draining staff time and contributing to increased burnout. SB 133 will relieve some of that pressure, allowing practices to better focus their limited resources on patient care, not paperwork.
Among its many important provisions, SB 133 also requires insurers to meet strict approval deadlines — 72 hours for standard requests and just 24 hours for urgent ones — and if those deadlines are missed, the request is automatically approved. It also requires that peer reviewers have clinical expertise in the same or a similar specialty as the requesting provider, meaning ophthalmologists will no longer have to appeal denials made by someone with no understanding or background in vision care.
By removing unnecessary barriers to timely treatment, SB 133 will make a real difference for the Alaskans we serve. It respects the clinical judgment of trained providers, strengthens transparency and accountability, and ultimately empowers patients to receive the care they need when they need it.
And in a state like Alaska, where patients often travel hours or are even forced to fly elsewhere to access specialty care, delays caused by administrative hurdles are not just inconvenient; they’re disruptive and sometimes dangerous. This law will ease that burden and help ensure rural patients are not left waiting for care.
To the lawmakers who stood with physicians and their patients, thank you. Your leadership has ensured that Alaska remains a place where patient care comes before administrative red tape.
Scott A. Limstrom, MD and Matthew G. Guess, MD are practicing ophthalmologists in Anchorage. Dr. Limstrom is the President of the Alaska Society of Eye Physicians and Surgeons and Dr. Guess is a Councilor for the American Academy of Ophthalmology.
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