The Senate Finance Committee held a Feb. 8 hearing entitled “Artificial Intelligence and Health Care: Promise and Pitfalls.” The panel represented a cross section of academic, clinical, and industry perspectives including witnesses from the Health AI Partnership, Stanford University, University of Chicago, University of California, Berkeley, and Siemens Healthineers.
Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) highlighted the importance of addressing potential bias in artificial intelligence, noting that his legislation, the Algorithmic Accountability Act of 2022 (S. 3572), would help to ensure AI tools are not perpetuating bias. Ranking Member Mike Crapo (R-Idaho) highlighted the need to ensure safeguards in the technology for security and privacy.
During the hearing, witnesses recommended establishing a predictable Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) payment approach for AI-based health services, fostering a broader AI adoption with emphasis on equitable access and outcomes, and implementing robust processes for AI tool evaluation. They advocated for infrastructure investments in technical assistance, technology, and training, alongside creating detailed standards that are still flexible enough to promote innovation. Witnesses also called for specified transparency from AI developers and guidance from the CMS on AI in Medicare Advantage plans, aiming to ensure the technology’s safe, effective, and equitable application in health care.