HARRISBURG, PA — The state House on Wednesday approved bipartisan legislation to regulate artificial intelligence in healthcare - particularly in clinical care settings or when insurers are reviewing coverage of specific health care recommendations.
If it becomes law, the House bill would create new regulations for how AI is utilized and reported by insurers, hospitals and clinicians. They all would be required need to provide transparency to patients and the public regarding how AI is being used in their companies or practice settings.
The legislation would also require human decision makers to make final decisions for a patient's care based on an individualized assessment if AI is used by insurers, hospitals or clinicians.
"The usage of AI is expanding rapidly into nearly every field, and healthcare is no exception," said Arvind Venkat, an Allegheny County Democrat and one of the legislation's co-prime sponsors.
"As the General Assembly's only physician, I have seen this development take place in real time. It is vital that patients are confident that AI is being used responsibly and effectively in their care."
The bill would also require attestation from insurers to the PA Department of Insurance or PA Department of Human Services and from hospitals and other healthcare facilities to the PA Department of Health on how their required internal governance and use of AI is in compliance with these laws. That would require that current laws related to privacy, safety and anti-discrimination are upheld.
The bill passed the House in a 144-59 vote and now goes to the Senate for consideration. If approved by the Senate, the legislation then would go to Gov. Josh Shapiro.
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