International Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation
Open Access

Abstract

Methodology for Projecting Future Medical Care Costs Why Artificial Intelligence Cannot Replace Human Expertise for Individual Patients

Craig H. Lichtblau*, Bernard Pettingill

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is being increasingly applied across healthcare contexts. It has demonstrated value in reducing administrative burden by automating several tasks. However, while AI can augment healthcare delivery, it is fundamentally limited in its ability to replace the clinical judgment and uniquely human aspects of expertise in healthcare. These limitations are particularly important when projecting future medical care costs for individual patients, as this process requires direct, hands-on patient assessment, evidence-based clinical recommendations, and defensible expert judgment. Here, we discuss the specific limitations of AI in the context of predicting future medical costs for individual patients.

Published Date: 2026-07-07; Received Date: 2026-06-09