Murdered Insurance CEO Had Deployed an AI to Automatically Deny Benefits for Sick People
Just over a year before United Healthcare CEO Brian Thompson was murdered this week in Midtown Manhattan, a lawsuit filed against the insurance giant he helmed revealed just how draconian its claims-denying process had become.
Last November, the estates of two former UHC patients filed suit in Minnesota alleging that the insurer used an AI algorithm to deny and override claims to elderly patients that had been approved by their doctors.
The algorithm in question, known as nH Predict, allegedly had a 90 percent error rate — and according to the families of the two deceased men who filed the suit, UHC knew it.
Alleged doctor's letter to unitedhealthcare for denying nausea medication to a child undergoing chemotherapy pic.twitter.com/fPDI9pa8l8
— Darth Powell (@VladTheInflator) December 9, 2024
How UnitedHealthcare and other insurers use AI to deny claims
The fatal shooting of UnitedHealthcare (UNH) CEO Brian Thompson on Wednesday has sparked public scrutiny of health insurers, especially regarding their use of AI in evaluating claims. The incident also comes as several insurance providers have been facing litigation over their coverage practices and the potential impact they have on patient care.
Thompson was fatally shot in New York City on Wednesday morning, just hours before he was set to speak at the insurance firm’s annual investor day.
Multiple outlets reported on Thursday that shell casings from the shooting had the words “deny,” “defend,” and “depose” written on them. The words appear to reference terms industry critics use to describe how insurers deny claims.
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