Is Medicare piloting an AI program in Arizona to determine which patients receive care?

Beginning in January 2026, the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services will launch the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISeR) Model in Arizona and five other states. The six-year pilot program will rely on third-party artificial intelligence companies to cut “wasteful” Medicare spending by streamlining the prior authorization process.

Under the WISeR Model, some treatments will newly require prior authorization, including therapies for Parkinson’s disease and pain-managing stimulator services often used for chronic pain. The AI system will review patient data and assess whether treatments meet established medical-necessity guidelines. 

While the program aims to reduce costs, policy experts have raised concerns about potential delays or denials of care, particularly in complex cases.