ASRA Pain Medicine Supports Joint Effort Commending House Committee’s Move to Halt WISeR Funding, Continuing Collaboration with Key Stakeholders
ASRA Pain Medicine joined partnering organizations to thank the House Appropriations Committee for unanimously adopting an amendment to pause the Medicare WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction) Model in the FY 2026 appropriations legislation. The pause would allow time to address significant concerns with the model’s design and implementation, including potential administrative burdens, prior authorization challenges, and lack of stakeholder engagement.
In a letter to Chair Tom Cole and Ranking Member Rosa DeLauro, the organizations emphasized the need for thoughtful planning, transparency, and safeguards to protect patient access and clinical practice. The organizations recommended delaying implementation until at least January 2027, assessing overlapping program burdens, establishing strong guardrails, and reforming vendor payment structures.
The group reaffirmed its commitment to supporting Medicare’s integrity while ensuring patients continue to receive medically necessary, evidence-based care.