Digital Pulse: Feds plan for more AI; Amazon telehealth expansion delayed by privacy concerns; CMS looks to get emerging tech to patients

The government takes on AI

The Biden Administration announced a roadmap to guide AI development in a way that still protects individual rights and safety. The president said that in order to seize the opportunities of AI, risks must first be managed. The most recent actions include an outline on where federal dollars will be spent on AI research, issuing a new request for public input on critical AI issues, and the issuance of a new report on the dangers of AI in education and learning environments.

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Amazon telehealth expansion delayed

Scrutiny from lawmakers about patient privacy has delayed a major expansion of Amazon’s telehealth service, according to Politico. The plan was for the company to expand Amazon Clinic – a video-based health care service -- from 33 states to 50, but senators raised concerns about patient privacy, delaying the rollout. According to the report, the senators are worried that a required patient release form gives the company complete access to all the patient’s health information and authorize Amazon to share the data.

CMS looking to make access to emerging tech easier

CMS is proposing to make it easier for people on Medicare to gain faster and more consistent access to emerging technologies that improve health outcomes, according to a blog post from the agency. The Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies pathway is voluntary and applies to certain FDA-designated breakthrough devices. CMS says the goal of the new pathway is to develop reliable evidence for patients and their physicians to make health care decisions and ensure that people with Medicare receive high-quality care.