On July 25, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) announced a number of organizational changes, including renaming the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) to the Assistant Secretary for Technology Policy and Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ASTP/ONC), among other actions. These organizational changes reflect heightened focus to provide oversight and issue policies governing the use of individuals’ health data and the development of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. It also demonstrates HHS’ aim to address recent cyberattacks against the healthcare sector entities.Continue Reading HHS Reorganizes ONC and Bolsters AI Leadership
Taking a Closer Look at ONC’s AI Transparency Regulations
In recent years, organizations have been developing and using predictive models, which are powered by artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) technologies, for numerous use cases in clinical and health care settings, including to aid in clinical decision-making. Currently, healthcare AI systems and tools have both clinical and administrative applications, namely monitoring patients, recommending treatments, predicting health trajectories, recording clinical notes, optimizing operational processes, and supporting population health management.
The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and federal agencies have been developing policies to advance transparency and manage risks for the development and use of AI/ML-powered health care technologies. Most recently, the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) issued regulations that addresses predictive models and health AI systems.Continue Reading Taking a Closer Look at ONC’s AI Transparency Regulations
Healthcare Policy Developments to Watch in 2024
The ever-changing healthcare policy landscape will witness at the federal level regulatory changes driven by the need to transform healthcare delivery, quality and innovation. Looking forward in 2024, this summary examines a number of healthcare innovation topics that have seen significant policy activity in recent years and that are relevant to healthcare stakeholders, including providers, plans, electronic health record (EHR) vendors and health technology companies.
Stakeholders should use this summary to examine existing regulatory and compliance gaps, prepare their organizations to comply with forthcoming federal regulations, and keep apprised of federal funding opportunities. For more information on these policy developments, please contact the professionals listed below, or your regular Crowell contact.Continue Reading Healthcare Policy Developments to Watch in 2024
FDA Releases Predetermined Change Control Plans for Machine Learning-Enabled Medical Devices: Guiding Principles
On October 24, 2023, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (“FDA”), Health Canada, and the U.K.’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (“MHRA”) jointly released a publication identifying five guiding principles for predetermined change control plans (“PCCP”) for machine learning-enabled medical devices (“MLMD Guiding Principles”).Continue Reading FDA Releases Predetermined Change Control Plans for Machine Learning-Enabled Medical Devices: Guiding Principles
Crowell Presents “AI and Health Care: Perspectives from Policymakers and Movers in the Industry”
On November 2, Crowell hosted an in-person roundtable discussion, featuring government officials, industry experts and other stakeholders, to discuss the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) systems and tools in the healthcare sector as well as the government’s role in regulating such technology. Policy makers, thought leaders, healthcare innovators, and business executives came together for a lively and engaging conversation. Continue Reading Crowell Presents “AI and Health Care: Perspectives from Policymakers and Movers in the Industry”
How President Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Addresses Health Care
On October 30, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (“EO”) 14110 entitled, “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence,” which establishes a policy framework to manage the risks of artificial intelligence (“AI”), to direct agency action to regulate the use of health AI systems and tools, and to guide AI innovation across all sectors, including in the health and human services sectors. OMB simultaneously released a draft memorandum that would specifically direct department and agency action by establishing new agency requirements in AI governance, innovation, and risk management and adopting specific minimum risk management practices for uses of AI. OMB is seeking public comment on the memorandum by December 5, 2023, which includes a list of questions requesting feedback on specific issues.Continue Reading How President Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Addresses Health Care
How President Biden’s Executive Order on Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Artificial Intelligence Addresses Health Care
On October 30, President Joe Biden signed an Executive Order (“EO”) 14110 entitled the, “Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence,” which establishes a policy framework to manage the risks of artificial intelligence (“AI”); to direct agency action to regulate the use of health AI systems and tools; and to guide AI
Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Requests Stakeholder Feedback on AI and Health Data Privacy and Security Policies
Last week, Ranking Member Bill Cassidy (R-LA) of the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (“HELP”) issued two separate requests for information (“RFIs”) asking for stakeholder feedback on artificial intelligence (“AI”) and health data privacy policy issues to identify current challenges and receive recommendations to inform potential legislation. With deadlines set for the end of September, each RFI provides a short window for organizations to submit comments.Continue Reading Senate HELP Committee Ranking Member Requests Stakeholder Feedback on AI and Health Data Privacy and Security Policies
WHO Announces Global Initiative Focused on Digital Health
On August 19, 2023, the World Health Organization (“WHO”) announced a new initiative to operationalize the implementation of the Global Strategy on Digital Health 2020-2025 and to further enable digital health system transformation. The Global Initiative on Digital Health (“GIDH”) is a WHO managed network of stakeholders organized to facilitate the implementation of WHO norms and standards for digital health system transformation and to enable a global ecosystem to promote country capacity and strengthen international cooperation in digital health. The GIDH aims to amplify recent and past gains in global digital health while strengthening mutual accountability to enhance the impact of future investments.Continue Reading WHO Announces Global Initiative Focused on Digital Health
Coalition for Health AI Introduces Blueprint for Trustworthy AI in Healthcare
On April 4, The Coalition for Health AI (“CHAI”) released the “Blueprint for Trustworthy AI Implementation Guidance and Assurance for Healthcare,” (“CHAI Blueprint”) which addresses the lack of industry-accepted standard governing the development and implementation of artificial intelligence (“AI”) tools in health care, outlines key elements to establish standards on trustworthy AI, issues recommendations for health systems to deploy AI tools in clinical settings, and proposes specifications to be included in a potential assurance standards guide.Continue Reading Coalition for Health AI Introduces Blueprint for Trustworthy AI in Healthcare