SJRES198Referred to Committee

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".

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Introduced
In Committee
3
Passed One Chamber
4
Passed Both
5
Signed into Law
Failed — Did not pass vote
119th
Congress
2026-06-24
Introduced
21
Cosponsors
SJRES
ⓘ
Type

Sponsor

Ron Wyden
Ron Wyden
Democrat · OR · Senator
Votes with party: 85.8% (873 recorded votes)

Full profile: /officials/W000779

Source: Congress.gov · FEC

Cosponsors (21)

Members who have signed on to support this bill since introduction. Source: Congress.gov.

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The most recent step in the bill's legislative path. Committee Activity below shows referrals and reports; the full action-by-action history including floor proceedings lives at Congress.gov →

Motion to proceed to consideration of measure rejected in Senate by Yea-Nay Vote. 46 - 50. Record Vote Number: 199.

2026-07-16

Source: Congress.gov

Committee Activity

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Plain-English 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.

Plain-English rewrite of the Congressional Research Service summary published on Congress.gov. Cached and reviewed.

Subjects

Health

Full Bill Text

Verbatim text published on Congress.gov via GovInfo. Use Cmd+F / Ctrl+F to search within this excerpt.

[Congressional Bills 119th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [S.J. Res. 198 Placed on Calendar Senate (PCS)] <DOC> Calendar No. 447 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. J. RES. 198 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''. _______________________________________________________________________ IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES June 24, 2026 Mr. Wyden (for himself, Mrs. Murray, Ms. Cantwell, Mr. Blumenthal, Mrs. Gillibrand, Mr. Gallego, Mr. Kelly, Mr. Booker, Mr. Markey, Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Baldwin, Mr. Kim, Mr. Sanders, Ms. Warren, Mr. Warner, Ms. Smith, Mr. Lujan, Mr. Merkley, Mr. Durbin, and Mrs. Shaheen) introduced the following joint resolution; which was read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance June 24, 2026 Committee discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c), and placed on the calendar _______________________________________________________________________ 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''. Resolved by the Senate and House of Representatives of the United States of America in Congress assembled, That Congress disapproves 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'' (published on July 1, 2025, and a letter of opinion from the Government Accountability Office dated May 12, 2026, printed in the Congressional Record on May 14, 2026, on pages S2299-S2302, concluding that such Notice is a rule under chapter 8 of title 5, United States Code), and such rule shall have no force or effect. Calendar No. 447 119th CONGRESS 2d Session S. J. RES. 198 _______________________________________________________________________ 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''. _______________________________________________________________________ June 24, 2026 Committee discharged, by petition, pursuant to 5 U.S.C. 802(c), and placed on the calendar
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