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Black patients misprioritized by Optum healthcare algorithm due to cost-based bias

Oct 2, 2019Eden Prairie, Minnesota1 source

Summary

A study published in Science revealed that a widely used healthcare algorithm developed by Optum exhibits racial bias, favoring white patients over Black patients who are sicker and have more chronic conditions. The algorithm uses healthcare costs to predict which patients need additional care, but this approach disproportionately disadvantages Black patients. The study analyzed data from 200 million patients and highlighted the need for reform in algorithmic healthcare decision-making.

Incident Details

Domain
Algorithmic Discrimination

Automated systems that produce discriminatory outcomes based on protected characteristics.

Harm Types
Discrimination

Differential treatment or outcomes based on protected characteristics.

Hiring Bias
Companies
Optum

Who Was Affected

Age
mixed
Gender
mixed
Group
Racial/Ethnic Minority

Sources

1
Racial bias found in widely used Optum health care algorithm — study of 200 million patients
Nov 7, 2019

This incident is documented by a single source. Source count reflects coverage in our monitored feeds, not the totality of reporting, and we do not evaluate publication quality.