The International Coalition of Medicines Regulatory Authorities (“ICMRA”) has published a report on the use of artificial intelligence (“AI”) to develop medicines (the “AI Report”) that provides a series of recommendations on how regulators and stakeholders can address challenges posed by AI. The ICMRA notes that there are numerous opportunities to apply AI
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Proposed Bill Would Expand the Scope of the CMIA
Legislation that would amend California’s Confidentiality of Medical Information Act (“CMIA”) is working its way through California’s Senate and passed in the Senate Health Committee earlier this week. The proposed bill passed in the state’s Assembly back in April. Introduced by Democratic California Assemblymember Edwin Chau, who sits on the Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee,…
Reps. DeGette and Upton Release Highly-Anticipated “Cures 2.0” Draft
On June 22, 2021, Congressional leaders Diana DeGette (D-DO) and Fred Upton (R-MI) released a bipartisan follow-up to the 2016 21st Century Cures Act. “Cures 2.0”—a “discussion draft” at this stage—is intended to build upon the Cures Act. The draft lays out several notable policies related to digital health, real-world data/evidence (RWD/E), and…
European Commission Proposes New Artificial Intelligence Regulation
In April 2021, the European Commission released its proposed Regulation Laying Down Harmonized Rules on Artificial Intelligence (the “Regulation”), which would establish rules on the development, placing on the market, and use of artificial intelligence systems (“AI systems”) across the EU. The proposal, comprising 85 articles and nine annexes, is part of a wider package…
European Commission Conducts Further Consultation on the European Health Data Space Initiative
On May 3, 2021, the European Commission (the “Commission”) opened a further public consultation (“Consultation”) on the European Health Data Space (“EHDS”).
This follows a consultation earlier in the year, on the Commission’s “Inception Impact Assessment” in relation to the EHDS. (For further information on the earlier consultation and an overview of the EHDS, please…
UK Government Announces Review Into Use Of Health Data For Research And Analysis
On February 9, 2021, the UK Government’s Department for Health and Social Care (“DHSC”) announced a review into the efficient and safe use of health data for research and analysis for the benefit of patients in the health sector (“Review”). The DHSC encourages stakeholder feedback in the context of the Review, and will be of…
FTC Reaches Settlement with Digital Health App, Requires First Notice of Privacy Action
The Federal Trade Commission (“FTC”) announced this month a proposed settlement against Flo Health, Inc. (“Flo”), the developer of popular menstrual cycle and fertility-tracking application (the “Flo App”), resolving allegations that “the company shared the health information of users with outside data analytics providers after promising that such information would be kept private.” The proposed…
M.D. Anderson Wins Appeal Over $4.3 Million HIPAA Penalty
On January 14, 2021, the United States Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit vacated a $4.3 million civil monetary penalty that the Office for Civil Rights (“OCR”) of the Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) imposed against the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center (“M.D. Anderson”). OCR ordered the penalty in 2017…
HITECH Amendment Provides Some Protection For Covered Entities and Business Associates that Adopt Recognized Security Standards
On January 5, 2021, an amendment to the Health Information Technology for Economic and Clinical Health (“HITECH”) Act was signed into law. The amendment requires the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (“HHS”) to “consider certain recognized security practices of covered entities and business associates when making certain determinations” regarding fines, audit results, or…
FDA Releases AI Action Plan
FDA has long recognized the significant potential of artificial intelligence- and machine learning- (AI/ML-) based software as a medical device (SaMD) to transform health care as well as the unique challenges presented by AI/ML-based software under the Agency’s traditional medical device regulatory framework. On January 12, 2021, FDA issued the Artificial Intelligence/Machine Learning (AI/ML)-Based Software…