Arizona state legislators approved a bill aimed at restricting the use of artificial intelligence in the reviewing medical claims. HB 2175 is waiting for a vote from the full Senate before it gets its final vote in the House. If enacted, this legislation would prevent AI from being utilized to deny medical claims or prior authorizations related to medical necessity, experimental conditions, or other judgments requiring medical expertise. Following a unanimous House vote of 58-0, with two representatives abstaining, the proposal is now pending approval from the Arizona Senate and the signature of Governor Katie Hobbs, a Democrat.
The Arizona Medical Association expressed hope regarding the bill’s chances in the Senate, emphasizing its potential to provide essential protections for patients and healthcare providers. Communications Director Shelby Job remarked that “patients deserve healthcare delivered by humans with compassionate medical expertise, not pattern-based computer algorithms designed by insurance companies.” Though recognizing the innovative applications of AI in healthcare, she stressed that the interpretation of medical insurance claims, particularly for critical treatments, should be left to physicians who possess advanced clinical judgment.
Sponsored by Republican State Representative Julie Willoughby, the bill seeks to protect Arizonians from losing access to healthcare due to interference by AI. She argued that any denied claims must be reviewed by a provider to ensure that the AI system does not overlook vital information. The bill mandates healthcare providers to review each claim or authorization individually before an insurer can reject a patient’s claim. This legislative move aligns with similar initiatives, such as those enacted in California, reflecting a growing trend to safeguard patient rights against the impersonal nature of AI in medical decisions.
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