Senators Probe Medicare Advantage Insurers Over AI Care Denials
- •Senators Blumenthal and Hawley are demanding AI-related internal records from major Medicare Advantage insurers.
- •The inquiry targets UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and CVS Health regarding AI tools used to block care.
- •The probe follows an HHS Inspector General report identifying continued patterns of improper medical service denials.
Sens. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) and Josh Hawley (R-Mo.) are demanding that the largest Medicare Advantage insurers turn over internal records regarding their use of artificial intelligence to deny rehabilitative care claims. The senators issued formal requests to executives at UnitedHealth Group, Humana, and CVS Health on July 15, 2026. This inquiry follows a government investigation published one month prior by the Office of the Inspector General for the Health and Human Services Department, which uncovered persistent patterns of service denials within the Medicare Advantage program.
The lawmakers argue that these government findings directly contradict assertions by insurers that they have effectively lowered hurdles to essential medical services. By seeking granular internal data on AI-driven decision-making tools, the senators aim to investigate how automated systems influence patient access to necessary rehabilitative treatments. This bipartisan effort marks a significant escalation in regulatory scrutiny regarding the implementation of AI technologies in federal health care programs.