The Social Security Administration (SSA) is cautiously exploring the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to streamline the disability claims review process. This comes after years of the agency avoiding generative AI.
One potential contender is Intelligent Medical Language Analysis Generation (IMAGEN), a tool already deployed in 17 states. IMAGEN analyzes medical evidence from disability claims, extracting key data and highlighting relevant clinical information for human examiners. It uses natural language processing (NLP) and machine learning to identify keywords, synonyms, and abbreviations within vast medical records. IMAGEN can basically search thousands of pages for a specific lab result in seconds and provide claimants with more accurate and timely decisions.
The National Organization of Social Security Claimants’ (NOSSCR) CEO, David Camp, acknowledged IMAGEN in his LinkedIn post as a possible option to significantly improve efficiency. He believes AI could complete tasks in minutes that currently take human examiners hours. While AI might not be perfect, Camp argues the potential for a more thorough review outweighs minor flaws. He also highlights the real-world limitations of human examiners who, under pressure, may skim or miss crucial details in voluminous medical records.
This cautious approach to AI reflects the broader challenges government agencies face. The SSA, for example, currently struggles with staff shortages and limited budgets, hindering their ability to deliver a smooth customer experience. However, SSA Commissioner Martin O’Malley emphasizes their commitment to using modern tools like AI to improve efficiency and customer service.
The use of AI in government workflows is a hot topic. While some agencies like NASA and the Department of Energy are exploring generative AI in controlled settings, the SSA remains focused on “tool AI” for specific tasks like data extraction and search.
The debate around IMAGEN highlights the ongoing conversation about AI’s role in government processes. While some believe no machine can ever replicate human judgment in claims processing, others see AI as a tool to expedite reviews and free up human resources for more complex tasks. Ultimately, the goal is to strike a balance between efficiency.
