Stop Deadly Denials Act of 2026

This bill would bar Medicare Advantage plans from requiring prior authorization (advance approval) for covered items and services starting with plan years on or after January 1, 2027. The ban would not apply to Part D drugs, supplemental benefits, or services that already require prior authorization under traditional Medicare. Plans that break this rule could face sanctions. The bill would also stop the federal health department from carrying out the WISeR prior authorization model in traditional Medicare, limit future test models that use prior authorization with AI-based denials lacking physician review or outside processors, and require public notice and comment before any new Medicare innovation model is chosen starting in 2027.

Full text and official record on Congress.gov

Sponsors

• Ro Khanna Democrat sponsor
• 6 cosponsors