{"database": "press", "table": "releases", "rows": [["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-schakowsky-introduce-resolution-condemning-prior-authorization", "Pocan, Schakowsky Introduce Resolution Condemning Prior Authorization Use in Medicare", "2025-09-11", "2025", "2025-09", "Democrat", "House", "WI", "Mark Pocan", "P000607", "pocan.house.gov", "pocan", "https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases", "scraper", "WASHINGTON D.C. \u2013 Today, U.S. Representatives Mark Pocan (WI-02) and Jan Schakowsky (IL-09) introduced a resolution condemning the Trump administration\u2019s plan to implement a new Medicare requirement, dubbed the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model, to force recipients of traditional Medicare to receive prior authorization, including through the use of artificial intelligence (AI), before being able to receive some forms of medical care.\n\n\u201cIt is not an exaggeration to say that the requirement of prior authorization for traditional Medicare services will kill seniors,\u201d said Congressman Mark Pocan. \u201cNot only that, but the use of AI in determining whether or not treatment is necessary is extremely reckless. Unlike Medicare Advantage plans that already use AI in prior authorization decisions, traditional Medicare is supposed to cover you, no questions asked. This is a disastrous idea of epic proportions and should be immediately rescinded.\u201d\n\n\"Every year, millions of seniors on Medicare Advantage are unfairly denied the care they need because of burdensome prior authorization rules. Now, the Trump Administration plans to implement these same requirements on certain traditional Medicare services \u2014 threatening access to care for millions more. This is unacceptable,\" said Congresswoman Jan Schakowsky. \"That is why I am proud to be joining Congressman Pocan in introducing this resolution calling for the termination of the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model. We must protect traditional Medicare.\"\n\nThe WISeR Model requires Medicare beneficiaries in pilot states - Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington - to increase the number of Medicare services requiring pre-approval by 30%, primarily using AI to do so. This means that patients\u2019 medical decisions \u2014 from what medications they can take to which procedures they can undergo \u2014 will be made by a bot run by private contractors who prioritize profits over patient safety.\n\nMost Medicare Advantage plans primarily require prior authorization to receive any care, leading to countless delays and denials, resulting in thousands of deaths every year. However, when those denials are appealed, a significant portion of them are overturned, resulting in needless delays and bureaucracy. Moreover, some Medicare Advantage plans that already use AI in prior authorization decisions have been found to have error rates as high as 90%.\n\nA full copy of the resolution can be found here.\n\nRepresentatives Lloyd Doggett (TX-37), Maggie Goodlander (NH-02), Greg Landsman (OH-01), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (NY-14), Rashida Tlaib (MI-12), and Bonnie Watson Coleman (NJ-12) co-sponsored the resolution.", 1, "2026-04-04T05:28:40Z", "2026-04-04T05:30:10Z"]], "columns": ["url", "title", "date", "year", "month", "party", "chamber", "state", "member_name", "bioguide_id", "domain", "scraper", "source", "date_source", "text", "has_text", "collected_at", "updated_at"], "primary_keys": ["url"], "primary_key_values": ["https://pocan.house.gov/media-center/press-releases/pocan-schakowsky-introduce-resolution-condemning-prior-authorization"], "units": {}, "query_ms": 0.8325586095452309, "source": "dwillis/congress-press", "source_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press", "license": "MIT", "license_url": "https://github.com/dwillis/congress-press/blob/main/LICENSE"}