The government wants AI doctors (www.empirical.health)

The U.S. government has launched four groundbreaking initiatives aimed at integrating AI into healthcare, reflecting a coordinated push to alleviate a growing physician shortage. The initiatives include CMS ACCESS, a new Medicare payment model incentivizing organizations to manage chronic conditions using AI; ARPA-H ADVOCATE, which funds the development of an autonomous AI cardiologist capable of providing continuous care; FDA TEMPO, allowing AI devices to enter clinical settings prior to full clearance; and a pilot in Utah permitting AI to autonomously renew prescriptions for common medications. These initiatives are significant for the AI/ML community as they not only showcase the increasing acceptance of AI in medical practice but also create pathways for rapid scaling and deployment of AI technologies. With primary care demand far outpacing supply—illustrated by studies indicating that physicians can’t meet care recommendations—these efforts may provide essential solutions. By breaking down regulatory barriers and establishing payment models that favor AI-assisted care, the government is setting a framework for the future of medicine, directly addressing the critical gaps in healthcare accessibility and affordability. The implications are profound: AI could transform clinical care delivery, potentially reshaping healthcare economics and improving patient outcomes in the near future.