Published on
The American Medical Association (AMA) developed a new set of policies at its recent annual meeting of the AMA House of Delegates to help ensure that AI is used to augment, not replace, physician decision-making, as outlined in a press release. While the policies aim to address a broad range of healthcare AI applications, they reinforce basic principles for payers and providers that use AI-powered tools. Not surprisingly, the association opposes the use of autonomous or semiautonomous AI systems as substitutes for physician review in insurance coverage determinations. The AMA also states that AI systems used in patient care should operate under physician oversight and should be integrated into clinician-led workflows. Greater transparency, accountability, and evaluation of AI tools are needed to ensure the tools are aligned with current clinical standards of care, according to AMA. Additional recommendations include integrating safeguards on the payer side to ensure that “coverage decisions are based on accurate, up-to-date, evidence-based medical information and are reviewed by physicians with appropriate expertise.”
AI may be here to stay: Last October, AMA launched its Center for Digital Health and AI. Through the center’s guidance, AMA leaders will work with medical specialty societies, regulators, AI developers, and others to establish standards for AI-enabled clinical decision support systems. In a 2026 AMA survey, 81% of physicians reported using AI in their professional work, roughly double the 2023 level. Read more from the JUCM archive: The Case for a Generative AI Policy in Urgent Care