House Panel Explores Guardrails for AI in Health Care

With expanding AI innovations in the health care industry, from AI transcriptions of patient visits to algorithm-driven medical imaging, witnesses at a House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee on Health hearing urged Congress to develop regulations and oversight to protect patient safety and privacy.

Reduce administrative burdens: Doctors and health executives told Congress that AI has the potential to reduce physician "burnout" by transcribing patient visits, easing documentation requirements on doctors, and increasing the amount of time they spend with patients.

Implicit bias risks: But witnesses expressed concern about implicit bias that could potentially discriminate against patients based on demographics and errors in the massive amount of information generative AI (large language models) must be trained on.

Transparency key. Witnesses also noted the “paramount” importance for patients to know when AI is being used to treat them.

Swift action is unlikely: Subcommittee members said they were just scratching the surface and that further education is needed before making any legislative or regulatory decisions. 

Health care reform bills pushed to 2024: With the government funded until January, Congress will focus on moving defense spending bills in December. PBM reform and telehealth bills will likely have to wait until next Spring before seeing any floor action in either chamber.