09/11/2025
The latest Nedicare News update from Capital Hill
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🚨 BREAKING: Bipartisan pushback protects traditional Medicare patients
Great news for seniors!
House lawmakers just took a stand against a controversial pilot program that would have made it harder to get necessary medical care.
🔍 What just happened:
House appropriators voted to BLOCK funding for the Trump administration's "WISeR" pilot program, which would have required prior authorization (pre-approval) for certain medical procedures in traditional Medicare for the first time.
📍 The program details:
• Set to start in January in 6 states: Arizona, New Jersey, Ohio, Oklahoma, Texas, and Washington
• Would require pre-approval for procedures like skin grafts, nerve stimulator implants, and knee arthroscopy
• Planned to use private AI companies to review and approve/deny care
⚖️ Why this matters:
Traditional Medicare has historically allowed doctors to provide care without insurance company interference. This pilot would have introduced the same barriers that private insurers use - and that have been heavily criticized for denying necessary care to patients.
🤝 Bipartisan support:
Even some Republicans joined Democrats in opposing this, with Rep. Robert Aderholt (R-Ala.) supporting the amendment to block funding. As Rep. Lois Frankel (D-Fla.) said after the vote: "This is my lucky day."
⏳ What's next:
The funding bill still needs to pass a House floor vote, but this is a important step in protecting access to care for Medicare patients.
-Chris Westfall
In Washington, DC this week
