This week’s series covers:
- Arizona Passes Bill Banning AI in Medical Decisions, Mandating Doctor Review,
- CBO Warns Expiring ACA Subsidies Could Leave 3.8M Uninsured, Raise Premiums
- Rural Hospital Closures Accelerate as Medicare Tightens Telehealth Access
Missed Last Week’s Healthcare.com Roundup? Here’s what happened:
- February 13, 2025
- February 5, 2025
- January 31, 2025
- January 22, 2025
- January 15, 2025
- January 8, 2025
Arizona Moves to Ban AI in Medical Decisions, Requiring Doctor Oversight
Arizona’s House of Representatives has passed a bill prohibiting artificial intelligence from making medical decisions, requiring doctors to personally review claims and prior authorizations.
Supporters, including State Rep. Julie Willoughby and the Arizona Medical Association, emphasize the need to protect patients from AI-driven denials that overlook the uniqueness of individual medical cases.
If enacted, the law would impose penalties on doctors who violate the rule, aligning Arizona with other states like California, Nebraska, Texas, and Illinois, which are also advancing AI regulations in healthcare.
Congressional Budget Office (CBO) Says Expiring ACA Subsidies Could Increase Uninsured by Eventually Up to 3.8M, Drive Up Premiums
The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) was asked to evaluate the effects of not extending the expanded premium tax credits from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) on health insurance coverage and premium costs.
ARPA reduced premium contributions for individuals purchasing insurance through ACA marketplaces and expanded eligibility to those earning above 400% of the federal poverty level (FPL).
According to the report, if the tax credits are not extended, the number of uninsured individuals is projected to increase by 2.2 million in 2026, 3.7 million in 2027, and 3.8 million annually from 2026 to 2034.
Additionally, gross benchmark premiums before tax credits are expected to rise by 4.3% in 2026 without an extension.
Rural Hospital Closures Rise as Telehealth Access Tightens Under Medicare Rules
From 2017 to 2023, rural hospital closures outpaced openings, with 61 hospitals shutting down and only 11 opening, contributing to a long-term trend of 193 closures since 2005. These closures, reported by KFF, raise concerns about access to critical healthcare services.
Until March 31, 2025, Medicare-covered telehealth services remain available from any location, including homes, but starting April 1, most telehealth services will require patients to be in a rural office or medical facility. However, exceptions will remain for specific services, such as home dialysis visits, acute stroke evaluations, and mental health or substance use disorder treatments.
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