SJRES 198 · 119th Congress 2025–2027

A joint resolution providing for congressional disapproval under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code, of the rule submitted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services of the Department of Health and Human Services relating to "Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model".

Fact sheet

Latest action · Jul 16, 2026 Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 50. Record Vote Number: 199.

Progress

Where this resolution reached, and when. A stage with no date was not reached; one that failed a vote and later carried shows the date it carried.

  1. IntroducedJun 24, 2026
  2. Passed SenateNot reached
  3. Passed HouseNot reached
  4. To the PresidentNot reached
  5. Became lawNot reached

Summary

This joint resolution prohibits the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) from testing a new Medicare payment model in certain states that involves a prior authorization process and the use of enhanced technology by third-party contractors to determine whether certain claims should be paid.

Specifically, the joint resolution nullifies a notice issued by the CMS on July 1, 2025, titled Medicare Program; Implementation of Prior Authorization for Select Services for the Wasteful and Inappropriate Services Reduction (WISeR) Model. (On May 12, 2026, the Government Accountability Office issued a letter of opinion stating that this notice constituted an agency rule and is therefore subject to the Congressional Review Act.)

The CMS selected six states to participate in this model over a six-year period: New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, Arizona, and Washington. Under the model, contracted companies must process prior authorization requests (i.e., requests for coverage determinations before a service is furnished) for certain services using enhanced technology (e.g., artificial intelligence). Contracted companies are paid based on the share of resulting savings. The CMS aims to test the model's ability to produce accurate results while streamlining the prior authorization process for Medicare claims. The model is based in part on similar processes used for Medicare Advantage claims. 

CMS began implementing the model on January 1, 2026. This joint resolution prohibits the CMS from continuing to do so.

Recorded votes 1

Newest first. Open one to see how every member voted.

Roll callQuestionResultDate
Senate 199Motion to Proceed Rejected46–50Jul 16, 2026

Cosponsors 21

Members who signed on, in the order they did. Signatures ran from Jun 24, 2026 to Jul 14, 2026, with 19 there on the day it was introduced.

SeatCosponsorSigned on
D-NJAndy KimOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-NMBen Ray LujánOriginalJun 24, 2026
I-VTBernard SandersOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-NJCory A. BookerOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-MAEdward J. MarkeyOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-MAElizabeth WarrenOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-NHJeanne ShaheenOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-ORJeff MerkleyOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-NYKirsten E. GillibrandOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-WAMaria CantwellOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-AZMark KellyOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-VAMark R. WarnerOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-WAPatty MurrayOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-CTRichard BlumenthalOriginalJun 24, 2026
D-ILRichard J. DurbinOriginalJun 24, 2026

Actions 6

Everything that happened, newest first.

  1. Jul 16, 2026Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 50. Record Vote Number: 199.
  2. Jun 24, 2026Introduced in Senate
  3. Jun 24, 2026Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 446.
  4. Jun 24, 2026Placed on Senate Legislative Calendar under General Orders. Calendar No. 447.
  5. Jun 24, 2026Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.

Related bills 2

Companion bills and other measures the record links to this one.

Subjects

Assigned by the Library of Congress. Policy area: Health.

Text 1

Each version as it was printed, newest first.

  1. Jun 24, 2026Placed on Calendar Senate

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