B- Grade
Political Lean 68% Left-leaning
Cantwell calls for halt to WISeR AI prior authorization pilot in six Medicare states
Sen. Maria Cantwell delivered a Senate floor speech criticizing the CMS WISeR model, an AI-driven prior authorization pilot launched January 1, 2026, in Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington. She highlighted delays of up to four times longer for procedures, two specific Washington constituents denied or delayed non-opioid pain treatments, impacts on 18,600 Washingtonians and 1.1 million nationally, and warnings from groups including AARP and the AMA. Cantwell urged stopping the model to preserve the doctor-patient relationship in traditional Medicare and noted a failed Senate vote to halt it.
Source: Forbes Breaking News
