Arizona bans AI from making medical decisions after new legislation
- Arizona lawmakers enacted a bill to restrict AI usage in healthcare decision-making.
- The legislation mandates that medical claims must be reviewed by healthcare providers personally.
- Supporters hope this will protect patient access to healthcare and ensure decisions are made by human professionals.
In Arizona, state lawmakers recently passed a bill aimed at restricting the use of artificial intelligence in reviewing medical claims, following a unanimous vote in the House. This new legislation, which requires healthcare providers to personally review claims and prior authorizations, is set to ensure that human expertise is prioritized over algorithms in medical decision-making. The bill is part of a broader movement across multiple states to enhance patient protection and address concerns over the increasing reliance on AI by health insurers. The push against AI in healthcare decision-making comes amid growing scrutiny of its application. For instance, a significant healthcare provider, Cigna, was found to have denied over 30,000 claims due to a review process that utilized AI technology. Such actions have prompted calls for stricter oversight of AI applications in healthcare, as many experts believe that AI cannot fully comprehend the unique medical histories and needs of individual patients. Spearheaded by State Rep. Julie Willoughby, a registered nurse, the Arizona legislation seeks to eliminate potential misjudgments made by automated systems in the medical realm. Willoughby expressed concerns that AI interference could hinder access to healthcare and emphasized the importance of maintaining human involvement in medical reviews. Supporters of the measure argue that it aims to safeguard patients and ensure that healthcare decisions are made by qualified professionals capable of nuanced judgment. Arizona's legislative efforts mirror recent actions in California, where similar restrictions on AI in medical decision-making were enacted. California's law mandates physician oversight for any AI tools used in the process of approving or denying medical requests. The momentum generated by these legislative changes across states suggests a rising recognition of the need for human oversight in healthcare amid the evolving landscape of AI technologies.