The rapid integration of artificial intelligence into healthcare is presenting challenges to policymakers and health systems, who are striving to keep up with the necessary governance to maintain patient safety, provider accountability, and equity.
To tackle these challenges, Will Moss, a senior at Brooks, created the Health and AI Policy Index (HAPI), a public database that monitors legislation and governance efforts related to healthcare AI across various regulatory landscapes.
Through HAPI, Moss conducted an analysis of the evolving regulatory environment for healthcare AI in the United States, which has been documented in a recent publication in npj Digital Medicine.
“HAPI was established to simplify access to healthcare AI governance information,” Moss explained. “Currently, stakeholders—policymakers, researchers, and healthcare systems—are trying to find their way through a fast-evolving regulatory landscape. I aimed to develop a centralized tool that allows people to keep up with real-time developments from different states.”
The platform aggregates a wide range of information, including legislation, executive orders, regulatory guidance, and voluntary standards concerning AI in healthcare at state, federal, and international levels.
“Since no single comprehensive framework exists for governing healthcare AI, various stakeholders must traverse a complex network of policies from numerous regulators and institutions,” Moss noted. “HAPI was created to compile these updates into a single, user-friendly resource.”
This interactive tool enables users to sift through policies by jurisdiction, stakeholder group, and influence level, while also delivering concise summaries, implementation insights, and trend analyses.
Moss’s project benefited from his experiences in AI policy and governance at the Windreich Department of Artificial Intelligence and Human Health at Mount Sinai, where he observed the evaluation, implementation, and governance of healthcare AI firsthand. His prior internships in both federal and state government affairs also honed his skills in policy analysis, stakeholder engagement, and maneuvering through intricate regulatory landscapes.
“Will’s initiative exemplifies the thoughtful, interdisciplinary policy research that will be vital as AI transforms the healthcare sector,” stated Professor Sean Nicholson. “Resources like HAPI are crucial for helping stakeholders navigate an increasingly complex regulatory framework.”
As AI tools become more integrated into clinical practice, Moss emphasized that clearer and more robust frameworks will be necessary regarding transparency, oversight, safety, and accountability.
“The evolution of healthcare AI won’t solely depend on engineers or corporations,” Moss asserted. “The policies and governance systems we construct around these technologies play an equally crucial role.”
Moss expressed his commitment to influencing governance structures that ensure the responsible, ethical, and equitable use of artificial intelligence in healthcare.
