APA Recommends Comprehensive AI Regulations to Enhance Healthcare Access and Safety

The U.S. House Committee on Energy and Commerce convened on September 4, 2025, to discuss the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies in American health care. The meeting highlighted the potential benefits of AI while emphasizing the need for regulatory frameworks to ensure safety and equity in health care delivery.

A key focus of the discussions was the establishment of clear regulatory guardrails for AI in health care. Experts stressed the importance of preventing the misrepresentation of AI as licensed professionals and ensuring that human oversight remains integral to clinical decisions. This approach aims to maintain the core mission of health care: to help and do no harm.

The committee outlined five critical actions to advance AI in health care. First, there is a call for rigorous independent testing of AI models to assess their impact on diverse populations before they are introduced to the market. This step is crucial to mitigate potential harms and ensure equitable access to care. Second, protecting vulnerable populations, particularly adolescents, was emphasized, with recommendations for age-appropriate safeguards and robust data protections.

The third action involves investing in research and AI literacy. Experts noted that the rapid development of AI technologies outpaces current research, necessitating significant federal investment in understanding AI's psychological impacts. This includes fostering collaboration between psychological scientists and AI developers to enhance the effectiveness of AI applications in health care.

Fourth, the committee advocates for comprehensive data privacy legislation. A strong federal privacy law is deemed essential to safeguard sensitive biometric and neural information, ensuring that individuals' mental states are not inferred without their consent. Lastly, the importance of keeping a human in the loop was reiterated, with AI positioned as a tool to augment, rather than replace, clinical judgment.

During the meeting, committee members engaged in discussions about the practical implications of AI in diagnosing complex conditions, such as ALS. Experts highlighted AI's potential to shorten diagnosis times by matching symptoms and genetic information more efficiently than traditional methods. This capability could significantly improve patient outcomes, particularly in rural and economically stressed areas where access to specialized care is limited.

The committee's discussions reflect a growing recognition of AI's transformative potential in health care, coupled with a commitment to ensuring that its implementation is safe, equitable, and beneficial for all populations. As the committee prepares to collaborate on legislative measures, the focus remains on embedding psychological science into the AI development process to create a more accessible health care system.