Google is changing its search platform to make it easier for people to find cheap healthcare.
Updates were revealed as part of The Check Up, an annual event hosted by Google Health that included details on artificial intelligence projects to boost healthcare access.
Google Is Helping People Access Affordable Healthcare
Google Health announced at the event that it would expand its current work on Medicaid and Medicare benefits programs in the United States to help people locate accessible healthcare appointments and identify which insurance providers accept certain types of coverage.
According to PBS, the government-sponsored program now covers around 84 million individuals, an increase of 20 million since January 2020, right before the COVID-19 epidemic.
Based on the same report, the federal government now requires that states verify the eligibility of every Medicaid recipient, a provision that the government had waived at the start of the pandemic.
People will have to fill out forms to verify their data, including address, income, and household size. According to Google, an updated version of Search will simplify obtaining renewal information and signing in to the state portal.
Millions of people signed up for the program during the pandemic but must sign up again on March 31. If they fail to re-enroll, many will lose their health insurance.
Using AI to Enhance Search Information
Google will also assist users in locating free or low-cost care providers who register as community health centers.
The tech company says conversational AI technology Duplex has already called hundreds of thousands of healthcare providers in the United States to check their information on Google Search.
It will also assist doctors in determining whether particular Medicaid plans are accepted in their state.
Google on Mental Health
Google is also working with ThroughLine in New Zealand to boost the number of crisis hotlines available at the top of search results for searches relating to suicide, domestic violence, and other personal crisis subjects in different languages and countries.
Making Fitbit Health Features Accessible
In addition to these updates, Google will make more of Fitbit's Health Metrics Dashboard available without a subscription. This will be available on compatible devices in regions where the feature will be released soon.
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The dashboard assists users in detecting breathing rate, skin temperature, blood oxygen levels, and other health parameters. The update will allow customers to see trends over extended periods and gain quick insights into essential metrics.
More from Google Health
According to a CNET report, Google is working on an improved tuberculosis screening tool and an ultrasound that can identify breast cancer. However, there is no date when they will be offered to patients beyond the research phase.
Finally, Google has announced that it is collaborating with the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education to establish best practices for video production and content strategy that will assist thousands of accrediting organizations to produce even more qualified content on YouTube.
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