Bad news!
"Hospitals’ use of artificial intelligence tools hiked healthcare spending by nearly $1 billion over a two-year period, per a Blue Cross Blue Shield Association analysis released Thursday.
BCBSA’s new study shows that a major rise in patients being documented as having complex conditions led to $942 million in additional medical care costs for Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies between 2023 and 2025. ..."
"Key Findings:
- A sharp increase in patients being documented as having complex conditions appears to have added an estimated $942 million in healthcare spending for BCBS companies between 2023 and 2025, driving higher premiums and out-of-pocket costs for families, employers and taxpayers.
- There is a clear disconnect between coding and treatment — our research shows that coding for care has changed, but there is no evidence of corresponding change in care delivered.
- Patients often fell into a higher-cost billing category after a secondary diagnosis, a condition identified in addition to the patient's primary reason for receiving care. This secondary diagnosis may be derived from single laboratory values, making it particularly well-suited for detection by AI tools. Approximately 70% of the additional costs, more than $650 million, were tied to secondary diagnoses.
- This growth in complex coding comes as more than 60% of hospital systems began using AI coding tools, which can document patient visits, analyze lab reports and doctors’ notes.
...."
Credits: AZ Free News
