CA’s Enactment of AI in Healthcare Bills, CA Gov’s Veto of Private Equity in Healthcare Bill & More

CA Enacts Guardrails for Use of AI in Healthcare

California Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a pair of bills making the state one of the first to establish guardrails for the use of artificial intelligence in healthcare. One of the measures (SB 1120) would set requirements for the use of AI by insurers for utilization review or utilization management. The other (AB 3030) would require healthcare providers to disclose when they use generative AI in patient communications.

Although broad AI bills passed in Colorado (SB 205) and Utah (SB 149) had implications for healthcare providers, only a handful of the bills introduced this year focused on AI in healthcare specifically. (PLURIBUS NEWS, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

CA Gov Vetoes Private Equity in Healthcare Bill

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) vetoed a bill (AB 3129) sponsored by the state’s attorney general, Rob Bonta (D) that would have required private equity groups and hedge funds to obtain the AG’s approval before acquiring a healthcare practice in the state. In his veto message, Newsom said the state already reviewed mergers and acquisitions involving healthcare entities through its office of Health Care Affordability.

The measure was one of several introduced in statehouses this year in response to warnings from regulators about corporate consolidation of the healthcare industry and recent high-profile closures of private-equity owned hospitals. Only a few of the bills were signed into law, including measures in Illinois and Indiana. (PLURIBUS NEWS)

CA Requires Insurance Coverage of IVF

Gov. Gavin Newsom (D) signed a bill (SB 729) requiring large and small group healthcare service plan contracts to cover infertility treatments, including in vitro fertilization. The measure also changes the definition of infertility for insurance purposes to include coverage of LGBTQ+ families seeking to have children. (LOS ANGELES TIMES, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

NY Expands Insurance Coverage of Breast Cancer Screenings

On the first day of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, New York Gov. Hochul (D) signed legislation (AB 1696/SB 2465) requiring health insurance plans to cover breast cancer screening and diagnostic imaging if recommended by a doctor based on nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines. Covered screenings include breast ultrasounds, diagnostic mammograms and MRIs. (STATE OF POLITICS, LEXISNEXIS STATE NET)

—Compiled by SNCJ Managing Editor KOREY CLARK

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