Over 6 million Americans on Medicare will now need to get prior authorization from AI for these 17 procedures (MarketWatch)

Traditional Medicare is about to change in ways that closely resemble Medicare Advantage—and the shift is drawing sharp scrutiny. Beginning in January, a new pilot program will introduce AI-assisted prior authorization for select procedures across six states, expanding a tool long associated with private plans into traditional Medicare. Supporters frame the move as a way to curb low-value care and reduce waste, while critics warn it could delay treatment and quietly accelerate Medicare’s privatization. With millions of beneficiaries affected and political resistance mounting, the debate over where efficiency ends and access begins is just getting started, as outlined in the details surrounding the WISeR model from Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.