US Lawmakers Demand Big Tech Assurances on Undersea Cable Safety Amid China Concerns

Undersea Cable Security Concerns

• 🏛️ US lawmakers are demanding assurances from Big Tech CEOs regarding the safety of undersea cables that carry nearly all international internet traffic.
• 📧 A letter was sent to the CEOs of Alphabet, Meta, Amazon, and Microsoft by Republican House members on the China Select Committee.
• ⚠️ Concerns are raised that entities affiliated with China are involved in the maintenance of these cables, leading to worries about potential Chinese or Russian interference.

Potential Threats and Maintenance Issues

• 🔍 Lawmakers are wary of interference, specifically questioning how maintenance work on cables could allow for siphoning off information.
• 🛰️ The discussion touches upon whether satellites might offer a safer alternative for data transmission.

Healthcare Prior Authorization Reforms

• 🏥 The healthcare company Humana is eliminating about a third of prior authorization requirements for outpatient services.
• ⏱️ By January 1st, Humana aims to provide decisions for at least 95% of prior authorization requests within one business day.
• 📜 A national gold card program will waive prior authorization for providers with a proven record of submitting requests that meet medical criteria.
• 📊 Humana will also begin publicly reporting metrics on authorizations, including approvals and denials.
• 🤖 This reform is particularly relevant following discussions about using AI to appeal insurance denials.