TO PROHIBIT HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS AND HEALTHCARE INSURERS FROM USING ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE IN THE DELIVERY OF HEALTHCARE SERVICES OR THE GENERATION OF MEDICAL RECORDS UNLESS CERTAIN REQUIREMENTS ARE MET.

2025 Regular Session Introduced by Lee Johnson

HB 1816 aimed to regulate AI in healthcare, requiring FDA approval and quality verification for its use, ensuring patient safety and ethical standards.

WITHDRAWN BY AUTHOR

Summary of House Bill 1816

Bill Number: HB 1816
Title: To Prohibit Healthcare Providers and Healthcare Insurers from Using Artificial Intelligence in the Delivery of Healthcare Services or the Generation of Medical Records Unless Certain Requirements Are Met
Status: Withdrawn by Author
Introduced: March 17, 2025
Classification: Bill

Purpose and Intent

House Bill 1816 aimed to regulate the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in healthcare settings within the state of Arkansas. The primary intent of the bill was to ensure that healthcare providers and insurers could only utilize AI technologies for delivering healthcare services or generating medical records if specific regulatory requirements were met. This legislation was designed to address concerns regarding the safety, reliability, and ethical implications of AI in healthcare.

Key Provisions

The bill proposed several important provisions, including:

Definition of Artificial Intelligence:

The bill defined "artificial intelligence" as a machine-based system capable of making predictions, recommendations, or decisions based on human-defined objectives.

Regulatory Requirements:

Healthcare providers and insurers would be prohibited from using AI unless:
- The AI system is approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
- The AI system is verified by a quality assurance laboratory that ensures it meets high standards for accuracy, reliability, safety, and ethical considerations.

Definitions of Key Terms:

The bill included detailed definitions for terms such as "health benefit plan," "healthcare insurer," "healthcare provider," and "quality assurance laboratory," clarifying the scope of the legislation.

Exemptions:

Certain plans and entities, such as those providing only dental or vision benefits, were excluded from the definition of "health benefit plan" and thus from the bill's requirements.

Impact

If enacted, HB 1816 would have significantly impacted:

Healthcare Providers: Physicians, hospitals, and other entities licensed to provide healthcare services would need to comply with the new regulations regarding AI usage.

Healthcare Insurers: Insurance companies and organizations offering health benefit plans would also be subject to these regulations, potentially affecting their operations and the services they provide.

Patients: The bill aimed to protect patients by ensuring that any AI technology used in their care met stringent safety and ethical standards.

Procedural Aspects

Introduced: March 17, 2025

Legislative Actions:

The bill was filed and read for the first time on March 17, 2025, with rules suspended for a second reading and referral to the Public Health, Welfare, and Labor Committee.
On April 14, 2025, the bill was withdrawn by the author, halting its progress through the legislative process.

Conclusion

While HB 1816 was withdrawn and did not advance, it highlighted ongoing discussions about the role of artificial intelligence in healthcare and the need for regulatory frameworks to ensure patient safety and ethical standards. The bill's provisions reflected a cautious approach to integrating AI technologies into healthcare practices.