Before beginning my service in Congress , I was a practicing heart surgeon for more than 15 years. From my days in medical school to the day I performed my last heart surgery, I saw firsthand how our healthcare system has become increasingly encumbered by administrative red tape imposed by Washington. With federal bureaucrats increasingly coming between patients and their physicians, the result is that our healthcare system has moved away from its main focus of helping patients get the quality care they need.

My background as a physician, my participation in the Doctors Caucus in Congress, and my role as vice chairman of the health subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee have provided platforms to advocate vital change. During the 117th Congress, I also served as chairman of the subcommittee on doctor-patient relationships — a key component of Republicans’ "Commitment to America."

At the heart of all of this work is a desire to empower people by ensuring medical decision-making is in the hands of patients in consultation with their doctors. To that end, I am championing reforms focused on getting bureaucracy out of the examination room so that Hoosiers and all Americans have the tools they need to live longer, healthier lives.

For years, one of my top priorities has been reforming the process of obtaining prior authorization. Entities that pay for healthcare services, such as insurance companies, impose requirements such as obtaining prior authorization before patients can receive certain services. While accountability is important, it must be done in a way that is transparent and efficient so that care is not unreasonably delayed.

That is why I and several of my colleagues introduced the Improving Seniors’ Timely Access to Care Act, a bill that would ensure coverage decisions for Medicare Advantage patients are made quickly and effectively. According to a recent study by the American Medical Association, 24% of physicians have reported that delays in the prior authorization process have led to a patient getting hospitalized. This is unacceptable. Patients must not be forced to wait days, weeks, or even months to know whether care prescribed by their doctor will be covered by insurance.

Similarly, Congress must focus on issues that force doctors to spend more time on administrative duties than caring for patients. For example, electronic health records are incredibly complex and require doctors to spend inordinate amounts of time in front of a computer. We must reduce the “clicks” required from providers and ease the burden of obtaining up-to-date information about a patient. We must also push for the modernization of quality metrics for providers and the elimination of outdated, duplicative, or overly burdensome administrative requirements.

When Congress returns decisions to patients and their doctors, the entire system will benefit. The experience of seeking care will become less confusing, healthcare providers will be able to advise patients more appropriately, and quality of care will improve. In turn, I believe patients will be more likely to obtain preventive care when they need it and many of the healthcare workforce problems currently faced across the country will be mediated.

We know our healthcare system is broken, but I believe with smart legislation, we can work to get Washington out of the doctor’s office and put healthcare decisions back in the hands of patients. This Congress, I am confident we can begin to address some of these challenges and help build a better healthcare system for the benefit of all.

Dr. Larry Bucshon is a U.S. representative for Indiana and serves as vice chairman of the health subcommittee on the House Energy and Commerce Committee. He is a former practicing physician and surgeon specializing in cardiothoracic surgery.