States Tackle AI Healthcare Utilization Management Laws Despite White House Executive Order
Despite a December 2025 White House Executive Order threatening to cut BEAD Program funding for states with comprehensive AI oversight, nine states including Alabama, Hawaii, Indiana, Mississippi, Oklahoma, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virginia, and Vermont have introduced 2026 legislation restricting insurers' use of AI in coverage decisions, with federal review expected by mid-March.
Health Policy Rollup: State Action We Watched in December 2025
Delaware legislators introduced SB 213 eliminating hospital budget oversight authority, while Florida faces court-ordered Medicaid termination pauses after constitutional violations. North Carolina's certificate of need laws face ongoing legal challenges, and New York Governor Hochul proposed $71 million in healthcare investments including mental health licensing reforms. Utah became the first state implementing AI prescription renewals for chronic conditions.
Healthcare Legislators Tackle AI Claims and Medical Debt Relief (NCOIL Recap)
The National Council of Insurance Legislators adopted the Prior Authorization Reform Model Act and advanced artificial intelligence oversight policies at its Atlanta annual meeting. The Health Insurance Committee addressed charity care screening requirements and medical debt protections, while the Financial Services Committee continued developing AI governance standards requiring human professionals to make claim denial decisions. Legislators discussed expiring ACA tax credits' impact on market stability with state insurance commissioners.