The US Department of Health and Human Services is forming a task force to oversee how artificial intelligence is used in healthcare, according to a report from Healthcare Dive. There are several agencies involved in the task force, including the Food and Drug Administration and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Yahoo Finance's Anjalee Khemlani discusses the report and the latest developments on the cyberattack impacting UnitedHealth Group's (UNH) Change Healthcare.
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Editor's note: This article was written by Stephanie Mikulich.
Video Transcript
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RACHELLE AKUFFO: New details are reportedly emerging about the US Department of Health and Human Services task force to oversee AI in health care. President Biden signed an executive order last year for the HHS and its agencies to assess AI before it goes to market. For more details, we have Yahoo Finance reporter Anjalee Khemlani with the latest. Hey, Anj.
ANJALEE KHEMLANI: Hey, Rachelle. That's right, we know that, of course, the recent cyber attack on UnitedHealthcare subsidiary, as well as some concerns over UnitedHealth's use of AI has really prompted the federal government to take a closer look. Last year, as you mentioned, the signing of that order and then now the task force coming to fruition with some goals in mind. They have about 12 months from formation to provide more details. But as of right now, the agencies you see on your screen do have a few details of what they're looking at.
The Office of National Coordinator, for example, which is in charge of the health IT infrastructure for hospitals, it says that it is now requiring these hospitals to disclose how AI maintenance is being used when they have interaction with the government. Meanwhile, the FDA already has rules in play for approving AI-based medical devices. We've seen that happening. They are really at the top of the ladder really when it comes to getting ahead of the curve there.
Meanwhile, the overall department looking for ways that the ACA has rules against discrimination to possibly apply those in order to enforce better AI use, as well as the Medicare office. I mentioned last year, United really getting a slap on the wrist for denials from their Medicare Advantage based on AI. So that has prompted a rule on blocking the use of AI for these decisions on claims and that could see more widespread use across Medicare.
So these are just some of the details that Healthcare Dive has reported out this morning and we know that, of course, the work is still underway. But as we've seen because of that recent cyber attack, all eyes are on this topic. And just as a point of an update, United has said that Change Healthcare, the subsidiary that was attacked, is back online.
Meanwhile, the federal budget is looking at helping hospitals with this process with $1.3 billion earmarked for updating and getting to a, sort of, a baseline for security with cyber. So all told, those two things interacting. AI really getting ahead in health care and then you have the cyber problem and concern being dealt with so that all things can move ahead more smoothly. So that's where things stand right now and we'll of course, update you as things progress.
RACHELLE AKUFFO: Certainly good to see an industry the size of that getting that balance of both cyber security and AI sort of disruption and development as well. Great stuff. Appreciate you, our very own Anjalee Khemlani.
