Provides for the use of artificial intelligence by healthcare providers

House Bill 197 creates a new statutory provision at Louisiana Revised Statutes 37:22.1 that establishes a regulatory framework governing the use of artificial intelligence by healthcare providers. The law permits healthcare providers to deploy artificial intelligence systems to assist with administrative and analytical tasks including maintaining client records, managing appointment scheduling, processing billing and insurance claims, analyzing anonymized data for trend identification, organizing external resources and referrals, and drafting general communications about therapy logistics. Conversely, the statute prohibits healthcare providers from using artificial intelligence without review and approval by a licensed healthcare professional to make decisions related to treatment or diagnosis, interact directly with patients through any form of communication, or generate therapeutic recommendations or treatment plans. The law establishes a civil penalty framework with fines up to ten thousand dollars per violation and delegates enforcement authority to the Louisiana Department of Health, which must promulgate rules for implementation.

Healthcare providers licensed or certified in Louisiana will be directly affected by this regulatory scheme. Licensed healthcare professionals who work with artificial intelligence systems must maintain oversight authority over any AI applications that touch treatment decisions, patient communications, or therapeutic recommendations. Patients benefit from protection against autonomous AI decision-making in clinical settings while potentially enjoying improved administrative efficiencies through permitted AI applications. The Louisiana Department of Health assumes responsibility for investigating complaints regarding alleged violations, determining whether violations have occurred, and collecting civil penalties. Healthcare facilities and practices must evaluate their current AI implementations against the statutory prohibitions and ensure compliance through proper review and approval mechanisms before deploying AI in restricted capacities.

This legislation operates within the broader regulatory structure of Louisiana's healthcare licensing and professional regulation system established in Title 37 of the Louisiana Revised Statutes. The statute complements existing licensing board authority by creating a parallel enforcement mechanism through the Department of Health while preserving the authority of individual licensing boards to take action against healthcare professionals under their respective jurisdictions. The framework acknowledges the intersection of artificial intelligence technology with professional practice standards and patient safety requirements already embedded in Louisiana healthcare law. The statute's definition of artificial intelligence reflects contemporary understanding of machine-based systems while the permissible uses focus on administrative and analytical support that do not displace professional judgment in clinical decision-making, thereby protecting the fundamental legal relationship between healthcare providers and patients that requires direct professional engagement in diagnosis, treatment, and therapeutic communication.