News and Analysis

The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has provided an update on how it plans to accelerate the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in clinical care settings. AI has tremendous potential for improving efficiency in healthcare, achieving better patient outcomes, and lowering healthcare costs for Americans; however, there are risks associated with AI implementation in healthcare.
The HHS issued a Request for Information (RFI) in December 2025 on how AI tools can be used to deflate healthcare costs, as part of the Make America Healthy Again initiative. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. sought broad public input on how the HHS could use its regulatory, reimbursement, and research & development levers to enable AI adoption to propel the U.S. healthcare system forward.
The HHS sought information on how digital health and software regulatory frameworks should evolve to account for AI-driven tools while maintaining patient safety; whether reimbursement structures could be simplified and better aligned to support the use of efficient, deflationary technologies; and whether research and development investments could strengthen implementation science and best practices. The HHS received more than 7,000 comments from healthcare providers, researchers, and industry groups in response to the RFI.
U.S. healthcare spending increased by 7.3% to a record $5.7 trillion in 2025, according to the HHS Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), and costs are expected to continue to rise. While spending accounted for 18% of GDP in 2024, it is expected to rise to more than 20.5% by 2034. AI could play a vital role in reducing healthcare costs, including automating administrative tasks and patient communications, and helping patients manage their health conditions; however, implementing AI tools within a strict regulatory framework is a challenge due to the privacy and security risks associated with these tools. Other risks include inaccurate outputs, biased data, and model degradation over time.
During a webinar last week, HHS leaders shared some of the feedback received in response to last year’s RFI, explaining that there was a broad consensus that the healthcare industry wanted better coordination across HHS agencies, support in implementation and creating governance structures, and guidance on what makes a good AI tool and which AI tools work well.
“We believe that starting with these three things and acting on constant engagement from this community is what’s needed to establish trust. And trust in this technology is the only thing that will lead to responsible, but also effective, adoption,” HHS deputy chief AI officer, Arman Sharma, said. The HHS is keen to have AI tools used beyond administrative applications, including assisting with direct patient care. “Our goal is to improve access, affordability and the impact of healthcare through technology, including AI,” Dr. Thomas Keane, national coordinator for health IT, said.
The HHS shared some of the steps it has taken already to speed up AI implementation.  For instance, the Advanced Research Projects Agency is working on the development of AI agents for autonomously managing cardiovascular disease care, and the Administration for Community Living has launched a competition for developers to create AI tools to help caregivers provide care to older Americans with disabilities.
Meanwhile, the FDA is currently working on providing greater clarity on what is regulated, what is required from developers, new policy proposals concerning autonomous AI-enabled medical technologies, and is developing regulations proportionate to the risk posed by AI tools throughout their lifecycle, and is coordinating closely with other government agencies, professional groups, and international regulators.
The post HHS Provides Update on its Artificial Intelligence RFI appeared first on The HIPAA Journal.