Washington, D.C. – Tomorrow, the Senate will vote on the Trump administration’s plan to use artificial intelligence (AI) in Medicare prior authorization decisions to deny seniors’ medical care. Evidence shows that AI-driven prior authorization results in delayed care, longer wait times, denied life-saving claims, and higher costs. As if cutting $1 trillion dollars from Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act (ACA) to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations wasn’t detrimental enough, Republicans are now going after the care seniors deserve and need most.
“Tomorrow’s vote is about whether seniors can trust that medical decisions will be made by their doctors instead of algorithms,” said Protect Our Care Director of Policy Programs Vaishu Jawahar. “After Trump and Republicans cut more than $1 trillion from Medicaid and the ACA to fund tax breaks for billionaires and big corporations, the last thing Americans need is another barrier to the treatment their doctors recommend. Now, they are putting AI between seniors and their doctors at a time when seniors are already worried about rising costs and losing access to coverage. Any lawmaker who votes to preserve this policy is once again putting older Americans last and making it harder for them to get the care they need and deserve.”
Background
The Trump Administration Launched An AI Prior Authorization Pilot Program In January, Leading to Longer Wait Times, Denied Claims, and Added Costs. On Jan. 1, the Trump administration launched a pilot program using AI-based prior authorization requirements to overturn Medicare coverage decisions, leading to 2-4 times longer wait times for patients due to authorization delays, Medicare claims denied by third-party AI tools and clinicians, and higher costs for patients and doctors alike when the model was implemented in the state of Washington.