WASHINGTON, DC, July 20, 2026 — The Workgroup for Electronic Data Interchange (WEDI) developed recommendations on the issue of artificial intelligence (AI) and the innovation and role it is playing in the health care industry. The “WEDI Recommendations for Use of AI in Health Care” outlines guidance to be considered as AI work advances, including the need for overseeing AI structure, prioritizing privacy and security, collaborating between government and private sectors, accelerating research in AI, and incorporating AI into health information technology certification.

Initially started as a letter to U.S. Representative Jay Obernolte and U.S. Representative Lori Trahan in response to the “Great American Artificial Intelligence Act (GAAIA) Discussion Draft” released on June 4, 2026, WEDI selected five critical areas of guidance for policymakers to consider as AI legislation or regulation is being developed. AI is currently in various stages of development and deployment by providers and health plans and the vendors that support them. The increased exchange and use of electronic health data will increase the use of AI in health care. Currently, the most common applications of AI in health care include diagnosis and treatment recommendations, patient communication, engagement and adherence, and administrative activities. Although there are some examples where AI may perform health care tasks as well or better than humans, there remain critical implementation issues that need to be addressed prior to wide-scale deployment of this technology.

“WEDI was pleased to provide comments on the GAAIA Discussion Draft and the lawmakers’ interest in public feedback prior to finalizing the bill. Our comments and recommendations were based on our years of tracking the innovative and critical new approaches that AI brings to health data exchange and the potential benefits it can bring to all stakeholders, and most importantly, patients,” said Robert Tennant, WEDI Executive Director.

About WEDI

WEDI was formed in 1991 by then HHS Secretary Dr. Louis Sullivan to identify opportunities to improve the efficiency of health data exchange. WEDI was named in the HIPAA legislation as an advisor to the Secretary of HHS. Recognized and trusted in this role, WEDI is the leading authority on the use of health information technology to efficiently improve health information exchange, enhance care quality, and reduce costs. With a focus on advancing standards for electronic administrative transactions, and promoting data privacy and security, WEDI has been instrumental in aligning the industry to harmonize administrative and clinical data.

For more information, please visit wedi.org.

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Contact
Lindsey Canaley
WEDI
202.320.7618
lcanaley@wedi.org