A Senate report highlights rising denial rates for post-acute care requests from major Medicare Advantage insurers, specifically UnitedHealthcare, Humana, and Aetna. Between 2020 and 2022, UnitedHealthcare's denial rate for such services more than doubled, while Humana's increased by 54%. The report, stemming from a year-long investigation by the Senate Homeland Security Committee, raises concerns about the private insurance system's impact on care access for older Americans. Insurers' denial practices, particularly the use of algorithms, were scrutinized, prompting pushback from UnitedHealthcare and CVS, which defend their compliance with regulatory standards.

Senate Report Exposes Rising Denial Rates in Medicare Advantage Care WSHA

Microsoft is preparing to unveil its autonomous Copilot agents in public preview at the Ignite conference in November, with a focus on enhancing automation for complex business tasks. Designed for minimal setup and training, these AI agents can operate independently to streamline workflows. In a demonstration, a Copilot agent illustrated its capability to automate client request handling at McKinsey and Company by extracting information, cross-referencing data, and coordinating with relevant experts while maintaining transparency in its actions. Additionally, Microsoft is launching ten new agents for Dynamics 365 to improve operational efficiency and deliver returns on investment through functions such as lead identification and expense tracking.

Microsoft Unveils Autonomous Copilot Agents to Revolutionize Business Automation ITPro

Home Depot plans to implement a new policy requiring all corporate employees, including senior management and remote workers, to work an eight-hour shift in a retail store each quarter beginning in the fourth quarter of 2024. This initiative, announced by CEO Ted Decker, aims to improve understanding between corporate and retail staff to enhance empathy and company culture. While the policy intends to provide corporate employees with insight into store operations, there are concerns about potential dissatisfaction if they encounter challenges due to a lack of retail experience or inadequate preparation.

Home Depot Mandates Corporate Employees to Work Retail Shifts Quarterly Forbes

Seattle Children’s Hospital is set to pilot an AI language translation tool designed to enhance communication for non-English speaking patients, addressing challenges faced by the 8.2% of the U.S. population with limited English proficiency. This initiative responds to research showing that language barriers can lead to lower satisfaction and poorer health outcomes, particularly regarding hospital discharge instructions. The AI tool aims to provide timely translations of essential medical documents into languages such as Spanish, Somali, Vietnamese, and simplified Chinese. While the potential advantages are substantial, the hospital is proceeding cautiously with the tool's implementation.

Seattle Children's Hospital Launches AI Tool to Bridge Language Gaps in Healthcare Healthcare Brew