S.J.Res. 198 — 119th Congress

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".

Originated in the Senate · Introduced Jun 24, 2026 · Health

Sponsor

Ron Wyden

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.

CRS summary

As of Jun 24, 2026

Introduced in Senate

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.

Congressional Research Service, via api.congress.gov (public domain)

Roll-call votes

1 on record

Jul 16, 2026 · On the Motion to Proceed

Full roll call

Motion to Proceed Rejected (46–50)

Yea46: 44 D · 2 I

MemberPartyState
Mark KellyDemocratAZ
Ruben GallegoDemocratAZ
Adam B. SchiffDemocratCA
Alex PadillaDemocratCA
John W. HickenlooperDemocratCO
Michael F. BennetDemocratCO
Richard BlumenthalDemocratCT
Christopher A. CoonsDemocratDE
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocratDE
Jon OssoffDemocratGA
Raphael G. WarnockDemocratGA
Brian SchatzDemocratHI
Mazie K. HironoDemocratHI
Richard J. DurbinDemocratIL
Tammy DuckworthDemocratIL
Edward J. MarkeyDemocratMA
Elizabeth WarrenDemocratMA
Angela D. AlsobrooksDemocratMD
Chris Van HollenDemocratMD
Elissa SlotkinDemocratMI
Gary C. PetersDemocratMI
Amy KlobucharDemocratMN
Tina SmithDemocratMN
Jeanne ShaheenDemocratNH
Margaret Wood HassanDemocratNH
Andy KimDemocratNJ
Cory A. BookerDemocratNJ
Ben Ray LujánDemocratNM
Martin HeinrichDemocratNM
Catherine Cortez MastoDemocratNV
Jacky RosenDemocratNV
Charles E. SchumerDemocratNY
Kirsten E. GillibrandDemocratNY
Jeff MerkleyDemocratOR
Ron WydenDemocratOR
John FettermanDemocratPA
Jack ReedDemocratRI
Sheldon WhitehouseDemocratRI
Mark R. WarnerDemocratVA
Tim KaineDemocratVA
Peter WelchDemocratVT
Maria CantwellDemocratWA
Patty MurrayDemocratWA
Tammy BaldwinDemocratWI
Angus S. King, Jr.IndependentME
Bernard SandersIndependentVT

Nay50: 50 R

MemberPartyState
Dan SullivanRepublicanAK
Lisa MurkowskiRepublicanAK
Katie Boyd BrittRepublicanAL
Tommy TubervilleRepublicanAL
John BoozmanRepublicanAR
Tom CottonRepublicanAR
Ashley MoodyRepublicanFL
Rick ScottRepublicanFL
Chuck GrassleyRepublicanIA
Joni ErnstRepublicanIA
James E. RischRepublicanID
Mike CrapoRepublicanID
Jim BanksRepublicanIN
Todd YoungRepublicanIN
Jerry MoranRepublicanKS
Roger MarshallRepublicanKS
Rand PaulRepublicanKY
Bill CassidyRepublicanLA
John KennedyRepublicanLA
Susan M. CollinsRepublicanME
Eric SchmittRepublicanMO
Josh HawleyRepublicanMO
Cindy Hyde-SmithRepublicanMS
Steve DainesRepublicanMT
Tim SheehyRepublicanMT
Ted BuddRepublicanNC
Thom TillisRepublicanNC
John HoevenRepublicanND
Kevin CramerRepublicanND
Deb FischerRepublicanNE
Pete RickettsRepublicanNE
Bernie MorenoRepublicanOH
Jon HustedRepublicanOH
Alan ArmstrongRepublicanOK
James LankfordRepublicanOK
David McCormickRepublicanPA
Darline GrahamRepublicanSC
Tim ScottRepublicanSC
John ThuneRepublicanSD
Mike RoundsRepublicanSD
Marsha BlackburnRepublicanTN
John CornynRepublicanTX
Ted CruzRepublicanTX
John R. CurtisRepublicanUT
Mike LeeRepublicanUT
Ron JohnsonRepublicanWI
James C. JusticeRepublicanWV
Shelley Moore CapitoRepublicanWV
Cynthia M. LummisRepublicanWY
John BarrassoRepublicanWY

Not Voting4: 3 R · 1 D

MemberPartyState
Christopher MurphyDemocratCT
Mitch McConnellRepublicanKY
Roger F. WickerRepublicanMS
Bill HagertyRepublicanTN

Member pages currently show roll-call votes from the 119th Congress only. The “Member pages” column marks votes from that congress.