The United States is starting a new path. It will use artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare. The US Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) launched a pilot program. This program aims to change how care is given to people with long-term health problems. It could let health tech companies grow in this sensitive sector.
Pair Team, led by Neil Batlivala, was chosen. It is one of 150 groups in the CMS ACCESS program. This program starts in July. The program name is “Advancing Chronic Care with Effective, Scalable Solutions.” It uses a new way to pay for care. Money is not based on how many times a doctor sees a patient. It is based on the health results patients achieve. Examples include lower blood pressure or less pain.
The program covers sicknesses like diabetes. It also covers high blood pressure, kidney disease, obesity, and mental health issues. This is one of the biggest US government programs. It uses AI-backed health care. This is according to a report in TechCrunch.
AI Instead of Regular Visits
This new model changes how Medicare works. Health companies can be paid for using AI agents. These agents can watch patients between visits. They talk to patients often. They also help patients get medicines. They can help find social services for housing or transport.
Batlivala said the old system did not allow this digital care. He said the government is making clear paths for AI. This is for strict areas like health care.
Pair Team started in 2019. It helps patients with long-term sicknesses. It also helps those with social and economic issues. These include not having a stable home or trouble getting food or transport.
The company thinks patient health needs more. It needs help with their living conditions. This made them build a network of health and social workers in California.
AI Talks to Patients for Hours
In recent months, the company uses an AI voice agent more. Its name is “Flora.” Flora works all day. It talks to patients. It does daily checks. It helps arrange medical and social services.
Batlivala said the system had a call. It was with a 67-year-old woman. She lived in her car. She had heart failure and PTSD. The talk lasted over an hour.
He said this showed him AI's role. Flora might be the only person she talked to about her problems in weeks. He said these long talks are now normal.
He thinks feeling company and support is part of the cure.
Big Investments and Growing Fears
The new model has much excitement. But worries remain. Companies use sensitive health data. This includes mental health and social details.
Experts fear this data could be a risk. It might harm privacy for vulnerable people. Data breaches have happened before.
The program also has money problems. Past reports show some CMS innovation programs cost more money.
But Batlivala thinks lower pay rates push companies. They must use AI and automation. He said the money will only work if systems use AI first.
The company has partners. They can reach about 500,000 patients. They plan to double this number in three years.
Investors are putting much money into digital health. AI companies got most of the funding this year. This shows the future of healthcare may use more technology and AI.