Micky Tripathi, head of the Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC), believes that the recent rule on AI transparency instituted by his office will significantly empower both healthcare providers and technology developers. Speaking at the Reuters Digital Health conference in San Diego, Tripathi stated that the new rule should spur more adoption of AI-based tools in healthcare delivery and establish mechanisms for driving higher quality AI tools.
The new rule, which was finalized in December, introduces transparency requirements for AI use in healthcare settings. According to the rule, AI vendors must disclose critical information about their software, including its development, funding, the data used to train models, bias prevention measures, validation processes, and intended use cases. This level of transparency aims to aid providers in evaluating the risks and effectiveness of AI tools.
The rule is comprehensive, covering not just AI models directly involved in clinical care but also those that indirectly impact patient care, like scheduling or supply chain management tools. The rule is scheduled to go into effect on January 1, 2025. Tripathi noted that many clinicians are apprehensive about using new AI models due to concerns about potential mistakes. The ONC’s new rule seeks to mitigate these concerns by providing greater visibility into available AI tools, enabling providers to make more informed decisions.
Information on AI tools will be accessible through Electronic Health Records (EHR), allowing clinicians to easily learn about the design, validation, and use cases of the tools they consider for deployment. Additionally, Tripathi suggested that the rule could serve as a competitive differentiator for AI developers. Provider organizations are already planning to incorporate these transparency disclosures into their broader AI governance strategies. Some have even begun requiring this level of transparency from third-party developers they are considering for partnerships.
For a more detailed overview of the new rule and its implications, see the full article here.