Wisconsin lawmakers, physicians, and AI policy experts met at the state capitol in Madison to examine whether and how artificial intelligence should be regulated in healthcare settings. The legislative study committee convened as Congress considers a 2025 bill that would permit AI to prescribe medications, raising questions about accountability that remain unresolved.
The United States has no national data privacy law, unlike 144 other countries, according to Jordan Francis, senior policy counsel for U.S. legislation at the Future of Privacy Forum, a nonprofit focused on data protection. Francis spoke during the hearing as state and federal lawmakers work to respond to a fast-evolving industry.
The accountability question
Dr. Ramsey Larson, a family medicine physician, addressed the prospect of AI taking on clinical roles. "It sounds kind of like science fiction, like machines replacing family physicians," Larson said. "Who is responsible in the care of that patient? These are very big questions that haven't been answered."
Sara Froenke, a clinical informatics nurse specialist at UnityPoint Health-Meriter, urged lawmakers to weigh the long-term consequences of any legislation. "Think seven generations ahead and think upstream to prevent knee-jerk legislation later," Froenke said. "You are all in an incredibly good position to be forward thinking and you have the power to make real change."
For healthcare professionals tracking regulatory developments, AI for Healthcare training covers how these tools are being applied in clinical practice. Lawmakers examining governance questions can also review an AI Learning Path for Policy Makers focused on policy analysis.
What comes next
The legislative study committee is scheduled to meet several more times this fall. Wisconsin's next legislative session begins in January, when any recommendations from the committee could move toward formal proposals.
Why this matters for healthcare professionals
If Congress moves forward with the 2025 bill allowing AI to prescribe medications, clinicians in Wisconsin and elsewhere could face new questions about liability and oversight. The absence of a national data privacy law means state-level rules may set the terms for how patient data is handled in AI systems - and healthcare workers will need to understand those rules to stay compliant.
Your membership also unlocks:
