Howell, Watson propose bill to create oversight commission

A local representative is seeking to add some safeguards around the use of artificial intelligence in health insurance.

State Rep. Dan Howell (R-Cleveland), who represents Meigs County, and State Sen. Bo Watson (R-Hixson) have introduced legislation they believe will "strengthen consumer protections in health insurance by establishing safeguards on the use of artificial intelligence in coverage decisions, enhancing reimbursement protections and creating a new oversight commission to review insurance complaints."

Howell said he had patients in mind when introducing this bill.

"Simply put, this bill is about putting patients first," Howell noted. "Tennesseans deserve transparency in their health insurance claim process. This legislation restores appropriate medical oversight and accountability by ensuring coverage decisions are medically grounded and contractually consistent. An insurance policy is a contract and this legislation requires insurance companies to honor the policy they sold. Too often insurers are making medical decisions instead of doctors and the result is insurance companies practicing medicine without a license."

House Bill 2619/Senate Bill 2155 would create the Tennessee Commission of Insurance Review to "increase fairness, transparency and accountability in health insurance claim review practices," according to the bills' authors.

The commission would hear complaints, conduct investigations and enforce compliance involving health benefit plan determinations and insurer practices. It would also be authorized to adopt rules, issue subpoenas and carry out enforcement actions to confirm insurers comply with state law and policy requirements.

The legislation would also establish oversight of artificial intelligence by requiring that coverage determinations involving AI be reviewed and approved by a qualified healthcare professional before a patient's claim may be denied.

"Health insurance only works when the promises made in a policy are honored in practice," Watson said. "This legislation strengthens transparency, restores appropriate medical review in coverage decisions and creates a clear accountability process for Tennesseans when disputes arise. By establishing independent oversight and ensuring artificial intelligence can never replace a qualified medical professional's judgment, we are protecting patients while reinforcing fairness and confidence in the system."

House Bill 2619/Senate Bill 2155 is expected to be heard in House and Senate committees over the coming weeks.