Comment on CMS-2026-2377-0002
Anonymous AnonymousOpposeIndividual
Summary: The commenter opposes the proposed CMAA billing codes that would allow hospitals to bill for clinical work performed entirely by AI. They argue that these codes create a financial incentive to prioritize algorithms over human clinicians, which they believe will erode patient outcomes.
I am writing to express concern about the proposed CMAA billing codes, which would allow hospitals to bill for clinical work performed entirely by AI, with no human clinician required at the point of care. Technology should be a tool that supports the people delivering care, not a replacement that gets rewarded financially while the humans doing the work do not. Creating a direct billing pathway for AI, without first establishing equivalent recognition and reimbursement for the clinical staff already providing that care sends a clear incentive to hospital: invest in the algorithm, not the person. that is backwards. The humans providing care are the ones who would be compensated first and foremost- AI should exist to support them, not to compete with them for hospital revenue. I'm asking CMS not to finalize a payment pathway that rewards automated clinical work over the human care patients actually depend on. Prioritizing algorithmic revenue over the people delivering care will not improve patient outcomes- it will erode them.