“Lever Time” Presents: Artificial Intelligence Is Denying Americans Health Care

Today, we’re sharing an episode of the podcast “Lever Time” from our friends at the reader-supported investigative news outlet The Lever. On this week’s episode of “Lever Time,” Lever producer Frank Cappello and senior editor and reporter Andrew Perez are joined by health care journalist Bob Herman, who recently co-authored a report for the health care industry news organization STAT detailing how the country’s largest health insurer has used artificial intelligence to deny rehabilitation services for older and disabled Americans.

The insurer, UnitedHealth Group, has claimed that its algorithm, which predicts how long patients will require rehab services, is used solely as a recommendation. But its subsidiary’s case managers allege the company pressures them to adhere to the algorithm’s suggestions in order to cut off payments as quickly as possible. This issue is affecting Americans enrolled in Medicare Advantage health insurance plans, the privatized version of Medicare operated by private insurers as an alternative to traditional Medicare.

“Lever Time” is available on all major podcast players. You can also check out The Lever’s original investigative reporting over at LeverNews.com, and make sure to subscribe to their free newsletter.

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