Last year, about a quarter of all health insurance claims were denied in California — a reality mirrored nationwide that has stoked public anger toward health care companies, and led to accusations that such decisions lack human empathy. But this month, a new state law is taking on the latest twist in the debate, ensuring that a human’s perspective cannot literally be removed from such decisions by prohibiting coverage denials be made on the sole basis of artificial intelligence algorithms. Signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom last September , Senate Bill 1120 — known as the “Physicians Make Decisions Act” — comes as frustration with the health insurance system has intensified. Last month’s high-profile killing of UnitedHealthcare executive Brian Thompson in New York City ignited a wave of reactions that […]
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