CA Senate Passes CMA-sponsored SB306, Defending Physicians Decisions Act

In a unanimous vote, the California State Senate has passed SB 306—the Defending Physicians Decisions Act, a California Medical Association (CMA)-sponsored bill aimed at eliminating unnecessary delays to patient care caused by routine prior authorization requirements.

Authored by Senator Josh Becker (D-Menlo Park), SB 306 tackles one of the most persistent administrative barriers in health care by removing prior authorization for services that health plans approved at least 90% of the time over the previous year. The bill would streamline access to care by suspending prior authorization requirements for those services in the following year, cutting red tape for physicians and allowing patients to receive timely treatment.

A Data-Driven Fix to a Widespread Problem

Prior authorization has become a major bottleneck in care delivery. A 2023 American Medical Association (AMA) survey found that physicians spend an average of 12 hours per week dealing with prior authorizations, with nearly all reporting delays in necessary care. The survey also revealed serious patient harm resulting from the delays:

• 19% of physicians reported a patient was hospitalized due to prior authorization delays.
• 13% reported a life-threatening event or urgent intervention caused by care being delayed.

By targeting services that insurers are already approving nearly all the time, SB 306 preserves cost oversight for complex or high-risk treatments while eliminating redundant administrative hurdles for routine care. It’s a smart, evidence-based reform that benefits both physicians and patients.

CMA Applauds Senate Action

CMA applauds the Senate for taking decisive action to reduce delays, improve efficiency and restore clinical decision-making to physicians. This bill reflects a clear understanding of the burden prior authorization places on California physicians and the risks it poses to patients. We thank Senator Becker for championing this important reform and urge the Assembly to move quickly to pass it.

SB 306 now heads to the California State Assembly for further consideration. For more CMA news on legislation affecting physicians in California, click here.