A Democratic bill with 18 Democratic cosponsors · See all 19 cosponsors
Last activity — Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
In committee
Introduced and handed to a committee in the chamber it started in.
The committee holds it, and most bills are never heard from again. A hearing or a committee vote would be news; silence is the usual outcome, and it kills the bill without anyone voting against it.
Its path through Congress
- Introduced
- In Committee
What this bill would do
This bill is known as the Seniors Deserve SMARTER Care Act of 2025. It stops the Secretary of Health and Human Services from putting the WISeR model into action under the Medicare program. The WISeR model is described in a specific notice about prior authorization for select services. The bill also bans any model that is substantially similar to the WISeR model. Senators introduced this legislation in the Senate in December 2025.
Yes· 3 of 5
- Scored +8
Would people over 65 be better off under this?
The legislation directly protects seniors on Medicare from burdensome prior authorization requirements.
- Scored +8
Would retired people be better off under this?
Retirees benefit heavily by avoiding restrictive prior authorization models under Medicare.
- Scored +6
Does this make health care easier to get in general?
By blocking the WISeR prior authorization model, the bill ensures timely and efficient medical approvals for patients.
The opposite
No question was scored the opposite.
Who it would affect, and how
Potential Positive Impacts for People
- Section 2 stops the Secretary of Health and Human Services from implementing the WISeR model, which involves prior authorization for select services under Medicare, or any substantially similar model. This could be seen as positive for individuals because it blocks this specific prior authorization process from taking effect.
Potential Negative Impacts for People
- Based on the provided text, there are no specific sections or provisions identified that create negative consequences or burdens for individuals.
Groups and Interests Ranking
Every group the model scored this bill for, from -10 to +10. Tap or hover a score for the reason it gave.
- Demographic And Interest Groups
- Would retired people be better off under this? — Retirees benefit heavily by avoiding restrictive prior authorization models under Medicare. Would people over 65 be better off under this? — The legislation directly protects seniors on Medicare from burdensome prior authorization requirements. Would people with disabilities be better off under this? — Protects disabled individuals who rely on Medicare from facing additional hurdles to access specialized medical services.
- Healthcare
- Does this make health care easier to get in general? — By blocking the WISeR prior authorization model, the bill ensures timely and efficient medical approvals for patients. Does this put more money into Medicare, the health coverage for people over 65? — The bill protects Medicare beneficiaries by prohibiting the implementation of the restrictive WISeR prior authorization model.
- 1/7/2026
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/16/2025
- 1 Cosponsor added.
- 12/15/2025
- Read twice and referred to the Committee on Finance.
- 17 Cosponsors added.
- Introduced in Senate
One bill Congress.gov lists as related to this one — companions in the other chamber, earlier versions, and bills this one absorbed or was folded into.
Tammy BaldwinDemocrat · Wisconsin
Richard BlumenthalDemocrat · Connecticut
Cory BookerDemocrat · New Jersey
Lisa Blunt RochesterDemocrat · Delaware
Maria CantwellDemocrat · Washington
Tammy DuckworthDemocrat · Illinois
Kirsten GillibrandDemocrat · New York
Ruben GallegoDemocrat · Arizona
Timothy KaineDemocrat · Virginia
Andy KimDemocrat · New Jersey
Ben LujánDemocrat · New Mexico
Edward MarkeyDemocrat · Massachusetts
Jeff MerkleyDemocrat · Oregon
Bernie SandersIndependent · Vermont
Jeanne ShaheenDemocrat · New Hampshire
Tina SmithDemocrat · Minnesota
Ron WydenDemocrat · Oregon
Peter WelchDemocrat · Vermont
Elizabeth WarrenDemocrat · Massachusetts