Is the future of healthcare decision making in the hands of AI?
In a few months, Washingtonians on Medicare could see additional hurdles when it comes to getting approval for their procedures and care. .
That’s because the Trump Administration is exploring the use of prior authorizations to assess whether medical services are necessary for a patient. If it isn’t, the procedures may not be covered.
Prior authorization is a common practice in the insurance industry but not in Medicare. The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services says the tool will help weed out waste and fraud. And it says it will use AI to help make eligibility decisions.
Washington is one of six states that will pilot the program, starting in January.
GUEST: Darius Tahir - Correspondent for KFF News
Sponsored
RELATED LINKS:
-
AI Will Soon Have a Say in Approving or Denying Medicare Treatments
-
Health Care AI reviews rolling out for Medicare in WA for some procedures
- WISeR (Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction) Model
Thank you to the supporters of KUOW, you help make this show possible! If you want to help out, go to kuow.org/donate/soundsidenotes
Soundside is a production of KUOW in Seattle, a proud member of the NPR Network.
-
Libby Denkmann
Host, Soundside
Libby Denkmann joined KUOW in December 2021 as the host of the midday show Soundside. She’s a native Pacific Northwesterner who grew up in Redmond, graduated from the University of Washington, and covered local news as a producer and reporter with KIRO Radio.
More stories from Libby Denkmann » -
Hans Anderson
Producer, Soundside
Hans Anderson is a producer on KUOW’s Soundside, where he covers a diverse range of topics from conflicts over how to use busy streets to how the open spaces of the Palouse inspire modern musical compositions. He primarily produces segments about politics, arts and transportation.
More stories from Hans Anderson »
