The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is seeking additional input on how the agency can better adopt and implement artificial intelligence (AI) to advance and improve clinical care.
The recently issued Request for Information (RFI) further builds on the administration’s AI goals, integrating cutting-edge technologies to drive innovation and improve operations across the entirety of the federal government. The HHS’ efforts represent a “OneHHS” approach to AI implementation as the department works to establish a forward-looking, secure approach to adopting AI tools while preserving patient privacy, civil rights and civil liberties.
HHS’ core purpose for receiving input for the future of AI integration is to determine how the department can accelerate adoption on a comprehensive scale. In a similar vein to other departments that have already begun integration AI technologies, HHS plans to use these solutions to enhance patient and caregiver experiences and outcomes, reduce provider burden, improve quality of care and reduce healthcare costs.
Notably, HHS will only leverage tools so far as to not violate HIPAA, prioritizing interoperability and secure patient data. All responses to the RFI will serve to refine and inform the department’s efforts to adopt AI and utilize it in clinical care. The input will guide how the agency will:
- Evolve digital health and software regulatory frameworks to account for AI-driven tools while maintaining patient safety.
- Simplify and better align reimbursement structures to support the use of efficient, deflationary technologies.
- Strengthen implementation science and best practices through research and development (R&D) investments, targeting complex or high-acuity clinical scenarios.
The department is prioritizing any information that will help define its efforts to optimize regulation, reimbursements and R&D approaches to AI solutions.
As the department reevaluates its existing regulatory frameworks, it’s seeking additional perspectives on how those frameworks impact AI adoption and use for clinical care. HHS is also interested in determining changes to payment policy to help promote access to high-value AI clinical interventions, foster competition among clinical care AI tool builders and improve access to and affordability of AI tools. Finally, the departments wants additional information on how it may invest in R&D – including public-private partnerships among other methods – to integrate AI in care deliver and create long-term market opportunities.
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