AG ​Bonta announced that he sent a letter to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) opposing a proposed rule that would roll back regulations that help ensure technology used by healthcare providers is safe, effective, and deployed without reinforcing unjust racial bias. The proposed rule at issue — entitled “Health Data, Technology, and Interoperability: ASTP/ONC Deregulatory Actions To Unleash Prosperity” — would remove certification criteria requiring that model cards accompany health products that use artificial intelligence (AI). Model cards function like nutrition labels, providing critical information to providers and regulators, such as potential risks to patients and how AI models are developed and tested.

“New and emerging AI tools are used by many healthcare providers to make life-changing decisions, such as which patients to refer to specialists, which diseases to screen a patient for, or whether a reaction to an infection might be deadly. So, when AI gets it wrong in healthcare, the consequences can be deadly. I oppose the Trump Administration’s proposed rollback of regulations that require clarity about how AI tools used in healthcare were developed and tested. Delivering safe, effective, and equitable access to healthcare services must be at the forefront of any attempt to integrate AI and healthcare.” – AG Bonta