CMS Announces New Technology Office
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has announced the establishment of a new organizational component, the Office of Health Technology and Products (OHTP), effective June 9, 2026. OHTP is intended to provide enterprise-wide leadership and oversight of CMS’s health care technology modernization efforts, as well as the development and management of digital products supporting Medicare, Medicaid, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), and other CMS-administered programs. The office will operate in coordination with the CMS Chief Information Officer (CIO).
OHTP will include several functional components, including the Open Source Program Group, the Standards & Interoperability Group, the Product Development Group, and Digital Services at CMS. This organizational change aligns with the Administration’s broader efforts to accelerate the digital transformation of CMS and modernize the agency’s technology infrastructure.
Trump Administration Issues Scaled-Back AI Executive Order
The Trump administration has issued a new executive order on artificial intelligence that emphasizes cybersecurity safeguards while pulling back from more stringent federal oversight proposed earlier. The directive introduces a voluntary review process requiring companies to submit advanced AI models to the government 30 days before public release—shortened from an earlier 90-day proposal—alongside new efforts to coordinate with industry on identifying and addressing security vulnerabilities.
Framed as a balance between innovation and risk mitigation, the order is narrower than expected and avoids mandatory licensing or preclearance requirements, reflecting industry concerns about overregulation. At the same time, it signals growing urgency within the administration to address national security risks posed by increasingly powerful AI systems, including steps to strengthen federal network defenses and expand collaboration with critical infrastructure partners.
Bipartisan Lawmakers Release Draft “Great American AI Act”
Reps. Jay Obernolte (R-CA) and Lori Trahan (D-MA) have unveiled a bipartisan discussion draft of the Great American AI Act, a proposal designed to establish a clear federal framework for governing artificial intelligence in the United States. Released to solicit public and stakeholder feedback ahead of formal introduction, the draft aims to balance rapid innovation with safeguards by promoting U.S. leadership in AI, setting consistent national standards to avoid a fragmented state-by-state approach, and introducing stronger accountability and protections for workers, consumers, and national security as the technology continues to evolve. While this is the first comprehensive bipartisan legislative marker put out this Congress, the draft has already received pushback from members of both parties. House Democrats have mainly been concerned of the inclusion of language to preempt state laws for at least three years. The Democratic House Commission on AI has indicated it does not support the draft in its current form. House Republicans are concerned changes could inhibit innovation in the space.
Still, the bipartisan nature of the draft does indicate areas of some agreement that could be worked out further through the Committee process or other iterations of the bill.
Joint Commission Launches AI Governance Certification for Health Care
The Joint Commission launched its Responsible Use of AI in Healthcare (RUAIH) certification program, a voluntary certification recognizes hospitals and health systems that have established the governance structures, safeguards, monitoring processes, and workforce education needed to deploy AI responsibly. The certification standards are organized around five major areas: (1) governance; (2) effective data management; (3) risk and bias reduction; (4) monitoring, evaluating, and validating safety, performance, and responsible use; and (5) transparency, education, and training. The certification program does not evaluate or certify individual AI products or appropriate use cases. Rather, it assesses whether organizations have implemented sound governance and responsible-use practices.
Paralleling this announcement, the Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) released a complementary series of in-depth governance playbooks address core governance elements such as organizational AI policy and oversight committees, risk and impact assessments, lifecycle management, responsible data use, and third-party vendor oversight. The playbooks operationalize the joint guidance the organizations issued by CHAI and the Joint Commission in September 2025 and are intended to provide a practical framework for organizations pursuing the Joint Commission’s RUAIH certification.
CHAI Releases Best Practice Guides for Responsible AI in Medicaid
The Coalition for Health AI (CHAI) also announced a new Best Practice Guide aimed at helping states, developers, and health organizations responsibly deploy artificial intelligence in Medicaid eligibility processes. Developed with input from more than 40 health care organizations, the guidance provides practical, role-based recommendations for high-stakes functions like enrollment and eligibility adjudication, while emphasizing transparency, fairness, and human oversight.
Designed as a timely resource ahead of federal implementation deadlines, the guide seeks to help modernize Medicaid operations, reduce administrative burden, and minimize the risk of inappropriate coverage loss—ensuring AI supports efficient processes without compromising patient access or equity.
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