HHS to wrangle the state AI sandboxes
Update: Since we published our story, the HHS document has come out. We've updated our story with excerpts and to reflect the paper is now public.
The Department of Health and Human Services has put out a white paper that lays out its perspective on “Super Intelligence” doctors. We spoke to three people with knowledge of the department's plans ahead of the release, who shed light on internal discussions at the department.
In particular, the document discusses the department and its agencies thoughts on state AI sandboxes as well as incentives for states and their pilot participants to coordinate with federal health agencies. It isn’t regulation, but it may help clarify the legal landscape as the health-tech industry churns out more AI doctor companies and investors actively seek out information about how they’ll get regulated. Without clear guidelines, investors are struggling to underwrite these businesses.
Why it matters: In absence of federal rules on health AI, states have moved ahead passing a range of laws and programs to safeguard the use of the technology in health care. Those have included AI regulatory sandboxes that allow companies to test out AI-enabled care under the supervision of the state. Now, federal health agencies want to get involved without erecting new rules of their own.
In this story we will discuss:
- HHS perspective on AI doctors
- The role AI sandboxes are poised to play in regulation
- Potential incentives for a doctor-in-your-pocket
- What regulators perspective on AI sandboxes means for operators
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