🤕 Medicare's AI Experiment | EFFector 38.20
In January, the federal government launched a program using AI to evaluate Medicare beneficiaries' requests for certain procedures, sparking concerns about transparency and decision-making authority.
When patients seek medical care, they expect decisions about their treatment to be made by their doctors, not a tech company's algorithm. This fundamental expectation is being challenged by the government's new AI program, which raises significant questions about who ultimately controls healthcare decisions.
The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) has taken legal action to obtain records related to WISeR, the AI system being used in this Medicare experiment. The organization seeks transparency about how these algorithms are making decisions that directly impact patient care and access to necessary procedures.
Patient Impact
Documents obtained by EFF reveal troubling patterns in the AI system's implementation. According to EFF's Lena Cohen, the records show improper denials, operational chaos, and significant delays that have left patients waiting in pain while their treatment requests are processed by algorithms rather than medical professionals.
We're talking to EFF's Lena Cohen about WISeR records documenting improper denials, operational chaos, and lengthy delays that have left patients waiting in pain.
Broader Concerns
This AI experiment represents a concerning trend of the government outsourcing critical healthcare functions to private technology companies without establishing sufficient transparency, testing protocols, or legal boundaries. For over 35 years, EFFector has covered the intersection of technology, civil liberties, and the law, highlighting potential constitutional issues with such digital systems.
The EFF has made their newsletter available on podcast platforms to discuss these issues further, while continuing to advocate for patients' rights and proper oversight of AI systems in healthcare settings.
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