JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Dr. Willie Underwood III, president of the American Medical Association (AMA), joined Jacksonville’s Morning News In Depth with Kristine Bellino on WOKV to talk about problems in the health care system, including insurance delays, Medicare and artificial intelligence (AI).
Underwood was in Jacksonville for an international health care symposium hosted by the Duval County Medical Society Foundation and the University of North Florida.
During the interview, he explained how insurance companies can delay medical treatment and shared his concerns about the future of health care.
Why insurance delays are a problem
One of the main topics was prior authorization. This is when doctors need approval from an insurance company before a patient can get certain medications, tests or treatments covered.
Underwood explained that even when a doctor knows a patient needs treatment, the insurance company may still need to approve it first.
For example, a patient with kidney stones may need an X-ray. But before getting the test, the doctor may have to wait for insurance approval. If the patient needs surgery, the doctor may have to ask for approval again.
Underwood also shared a personal experience when he needed a root canal because of a tooth infection.
He said he waited weeks for insurance approval. When he contacted the insurance company, he was told they needed X-rays that would normally be taken after the procedure.
The problem was that he had not received the treatment yet.
Underwood said delays like these can make a patient’s health worse.
He believes people should be able to see a doctor and get the care they need without having to wait so long.
Problems with Medicare
Underwood also talked about Medicare and how much doctors are paid for treating patients.
He said Medicare payments to doctors have dropped by 33% since 2001 when taking inflation into account.
At the same time, the cost of running a medical office has increased.
Doctors have to pay for employees, supplies, equipment and other expenses.
Underwood explained that Medicare payments can also affect private insurance companies because many of them use Medicare rates to decide how much to pay doctors.
He believes the payment system needs changes to better support doctors and patients.
How AI could affect health care
Artificial intelligence was another important topic during the interview.
Underwood said AI could help hospitals and doctors with tasks like scheduling appointments, organizing medical records and handling paperwork.
But he also shared some concerns.
He said insurance companies are using AI to review and deny claims, which could make it harder for patients to get treatment.
Underwood also talked about the idea of using AI instead of doctors in some communities.
He questioned whether people living in rural areas or communities with less money should have to depend on AI for medical care instead of seeing a doctor.
He also asked who would be responsible if AI made a mistake while treating a patient.
Underwood believes new technology should be tested to make sure it is safe before it becomes a regular part of health care.
His journey to becoming a doctor
Underwood also shared his personal story and how he became a doctor.
He grew up in Gary, Indiana, and struggled in school when he was younger.
He explained that by sixth grade, he was still reading at a third-grade level.
With help from his family, he made a plan to improve his reading and other skills by practicing every day.
Underwood said his family wanted him to become a doctor when he was just eight or nine years old.
He also remembered an important lesson from his grandfather, who taught him that being a doctor means helping everyone, including people who may not have the same opportunities as others.
That lesson stayed with him throughout his career.
Making health care better for everyone
At the end of the interview, Underwood talked about the importance of doctors, nurses and medical groups working together.
- He encouraged people to learn more about the Duval County Medical Society and the Florida Medical Association (FMA).
Underwood said the goal is to build a health care system where everyone can get the care they need, when they need it.
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