Senate Vote Preserves Medicare AI Prior Authorization Pilot, Rejects Democratic Halt Measure

The U.S. Senate on July 16 rejected a Democratic-led measure that would have halted a Medicare pilot program using artificial intelligence for prior authorization of care. The vote failed 46 to 50 along party lines after Republicans blocked consideration of the bill.

The measure sought to prevent the Trump administration from applying prior authorization requirements in original Medicare, where the practice is rarely allowed. The pilot program is known as WISeR. Medicare officials on July 14 delivered a handout to lawmakers’ offices that outlined the benefits of the WISeR test.

The White House had opposed the Democratic legislation. @statnews reported the details of the Senate action and the preceding outreach by Medicare officials.