Microsoft, Humana ink 7-year strategic partnership to leverage cloud, AI and voice technologies

Insurance giant Humana and Microsoft announced a seven-year strategic partnership to use cloud and artificial intelligence technologies to build predictive solutions and intelligent automation to support Humana members and their care teams. Humana plans to use Microsoft's technology muscle, specifically its Azure cloud, Azure AI and Microsoft 365 collaboration technologies, as well as interoperability standards like Fast Healthcare Interoperability Resources (FHIR) to provide care teams with real-time access to information through a cloud platform, the companies said. Providers can use these technology tools to have a more holistic view of their patients to enable better preventive care, keep up with patients' medication schedules and refills and identify social barriers to health such as food insecurity, loneliness and social isolation, Humana said. Humana's goal is to leverage technology to improve members' health outcomes and make their healthcare experiences simpler to navigate. The partnership will address two core innovation areas for Humana.