The Arizona Alliance Fights for Seniors

Tell Your Representative to Vote YES to Keep Field Offices Open

The Social Security Administration is struggling in the wake of DOGE cutting 15 percent of the Social Security workforce. Click here to send a message to your representative to demand they vote YES on the Keeping Our Field Offices Open Act (H.R. 1876).
Where: Online Action | When: Now | RSVP: Send a message

Alliance on Facebook

Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans

Mission: To ensure social and economic justice and to protect the civil rights of retirees after a lifetime of work.
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Alliance for Retired AmericansTuesday, August 4th, 2026 at 1:59am
The federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services this year embarked on a new pilot program, called Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction, or WISeR. Arizona is one of six states taking part in the initial rollout, which is scheduled to run through 2031.

The WISeR model uses AI among other technologies to help determine whether or not certain procedures or courses of treatment are appropriate for Medicare patients.

Reporting from The Washington Post has found the rollout of the new system of prior authorization has not been smooth across all the states where it’s being used. And, an effort by some Congressional Democrats to repeal or defund the pilot recently failed.

Dr. Matthew Crooks has seen some of the problems with WISeR firsthand. Crooks is an interventional pain management doctor and director of interventional pain management with OrthoArizona; he’s also president of the Arizona Society of Interventional Pain Physicians.

He says before WISeR, he didn’t need to get prior authorizations for Medicare patients for minimally invasive procedures, although if CMS ultimately decided those procedures weren’t necessary, he it was possible he wouldn't get reimbursed for them.

He also points out he and his colleagues are used to getting prior authorization for other patients, including those on commercial insurance.

The Show spoke with Crooks earlier and asked what his experience has been working with WISeR.

Hear full conversation: https://www.kjzz.org/the-show/2026-08-03/ai-powered-wiser-program-complicates-treatment-for-arizona-medicare-patients-doctor-says

🎤 Mark Brodie/KJZZ
📸 Getty Images
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
13View on Facebook
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Alliance for Retired AmericansMonday, August 3rd, 2026 at 8:17pm
The ACC says it didn't need Attorney General review before repealing Arizona's energy efficiency standards. As record electricity demand pushes the grid harder than ever, weakening proven energy-saving policies and consumer oversight sends Arizona in the wrong direction. 👎
Arizona Corporation Commission claims unilateral authority to repeal energy efficiency standards
Arizona law requires the attorney general to review some rules from the Arizona Corporation Commission when they aren't related to ratemaking.
21View on Facebook
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Alliance for Retired AmericansSunday, August 2nd, 2026 at 4:48pm
Utility affordability doesn't happen by accident. 💰 Since 2023, RUCO has helped save Arizona residential customers more than $321 million by standing up for ratepayers in utility cases before the Arizona Corporation Commission.
🗣 Protecting consumers must remain the priority!
Hobbs Administration Helps Secure $321 Million in Utility Bill Savings
Savings on electric, water, gas, sewer span urban and rural communities across all 15 counties
32View on Facebook
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Alliance for Retired AmericansSunday, August 2nd, 2026 at 6:43am
💡🚨 Arizona's power demand just hit an all-time high.

With APS and SRP both breaking energy use records during extreme heat, it's clear that every tool to reduce costs and strengthen the grid, including energy efficiency, is more important than ever.
APS shatters record as Arizona heat drives demand - KTAR.com
SRP and APS both hit all-time peak energy demand on July 24 as extreme heat pushed the Phoenix metro area to record electricity consumption.
11View on Facebook
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Alliance for Retired AmericansFriday, July 31st, 2026 at 10:13pm
📈⚡ Record-breaking energy demand. Rising utility bills. Instead of strengthening tools that lower costs, the Arizona Corporation Commission has repealed another consumer protection by ending the state's energy efficiency standards. Arizonans can't afford these rollbacks!
Corporation Commission repeals efficiency standards as energy demand hits all-time high
The Arizona Corporation Commission this month repealed the state’s energy efficiency standards; they’d been in effect for about 15 years. That followed utility regulators doing away with Arizona’s renewable energy standards.
34View on Facebook
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
Arizona Alliance for Retired AmericansThursday, July 30th, 2026 at 2:12pm
The Trump Administration will end a program that lowered Medicare Drug Plan prices for 25 million Americans at the end of 2026.

Read our full statement.
Arizona Alliance for Retired Americans
53View on Facebook