Had a fascinating conversation with Jeff Ten Broeck on the latest episode of Merakoi Voices, taking on one of the big questions in healthcare today: Is AI helping patients—or creating new barriers?

Jeff, a digital marketing expert and atopic dermatitis patient advocate, shared his personal experience struggling to get coverage for treatments he knew could make a difference. He couldn’t say for sure whether AI was behind the decision, but it felt algorithmic—missing real human or physician input.

This is exactly why a new California law (SB 1120) https://lnkd.in/gwy5EfYH is making waves. It prohibits insurers from using AI as the sole basis for denying claims, ensuring that human judgment remains central to healthcare decisions. AI can be a powerful tool, but it should never replace doctors when it comes to life-altering treatment decisions.

Some key takeaways from our discussion:
✅ AI can streamline processes—but it shouldn’t remove human oversight
✅ Patients are already feeling the impact of automated decision-making
✅ ChatGPT and AI tools can enhance patient education, but they have clear limitations
✅ The future of AI in healthcare: will it empower patients or sideline them?

A huge thanks to Jeff for sharing his experience—it’s a powerful reminder that technology should serve patients, not the other way around.

Watch the podcast here: https://lnkd.in/dsre4rrj

What do you think—are we striking the right balance between AI efficiency and human oversight in healthcare? Let’s discuss. ⬇️

#MerakoiVoices