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ATLANTA, Ga. (WALB) - U.S. Senator Jon Ossoff is launching an investigation into insurance companies over denied claims and delays in medically necessary health care.

Ossoff has opened an inquiry with the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), citing concerns that “prior authorization” requirements are delaying treatment for patients who need timely care.

Prior authorization is a process where insurance companies must approve certain treatments or procedures before patients can receive them. Ossoff says the system is increasingly being used in ways that can slow or block access to care.

The senator pointed to research showing the practice is linked to worse health outcomes, including longer hospital stays, preventable complications, and delayed treatment.

Ossoff says he is responding to concerns from Georgians who report difficulty accessing care and navigating insurance approvals. He also says he is working to reduce health care costs for families while increasing accountability for insurance companies.

In a letter tied to the inquiry, Ossoff urged federal officials to examine the impact of prior authorization policies on patient care and insurance claim approvals.

“The improper use of ‘prior authorization,’ where patients must seek approval from their insurance company before receiving care, has led to Georgians being denied life-saving medication and others who have been forced to wait months to get the care they need all at the whim of insurance companies.”

The investigation comes amid broader national debate over health insurance practices and patient access to timely medical treatment.

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