HIMSS Analysis: Artificial Intelligence Executive Order

President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order that aims to maintain the United States’ position as a global leader in artificial intelligence innovation. 

The new executive order (Removing Barriers To American Leadership In Artificial Intelligence):  

1. Underscores the role of government policy in solidifying and maintaining America’s leadership in AI by calling for the development of “AI systems that are free from ideological bias or engineered social agendas” 
2. Provides instructions for the development of a 180-day action plan "to sustain and enhance America’s global AI dominance in order to promote human flourishing, economic competitiveness, and national security” 
3. Revokes a 2023 executive order by former President Joe Biden (Safe, Secure, and Trustworthy Development and Use of Artificial Intelligence) and describes the directives established by that order as “barriers to American AI innovation.” 

HIMSS encourages its members, communities, policymakers, and healthcare and technology professionals to adopt the HIMSS AI Global Policy Principles to advance the responsible oversight and implementation of artificial intelligence and machine learning in healthcare.  

The HIMSS Vision — to realize the full health potential of every human, everywhere — aligns with the transformative role of AI in advancing global health, innovation, and well-being. The HIMSS Mission — reform the global health ecosystem through the power of information and technology — highlights how AI-driven advancements can strengthen healthcare systems worldwide, ensuring resilience while promoting better health outcomes. 

This AI executive order reinforces the U.S. position as a global leader in AI innovation, establishing a foundation for transformative advancement of societal well-being, driving economic growth and strengthening national security.  

The AI Executive Order is a directive for the executive branch of the United States government, instructing federal agencies and officials to take specific actions to advance the nation's leadership in artificial intelligence. It emphasizes removing barriers to innovation, fostering the development of secure and bias-free AI systems and aligning federal policies with national priorities. 

In contrast, HIMSS developed its AI Global Policy Principles to ensure that all governments, regardless of structure, payment system or geography, have tools to create policies that support the rapid pace of innovation in healthcare. These principles are designed to address the growing complexity of health and delivery systems and to meet the needs of their populations. The HIMSS Public Policy Principles serve as guidance for policy development and analysis across all health domains, supporting the foundational goals of advancing quality, safety and equitable access to care. 

While the executive order provides a framework for federal-level initiatives, the HIMSS AI Global Policy Principles, summarized below, are tailored specifically to healthcare. These principles focus on ensuring the safe, effective and equitable deployment of AI/ML technologies to enhance health systems and outcomes worldwide. 

HIMSS AI Global Policy Principles 

Safe and Trusted AI/ML 

Policy Guardrails 
HIMSS emphasizes the need for policy frameworks that address the entire lifecycle of AI/ML tools—from development and initial deployment to their ongoing evolution as they adapt and ingest new data. 

Feasibility Testing and Equity Bias Mitigation 
Rigorous pre-release testing and continuous post-deployment monitoring are essential to ensure AI/ML tools do not amplify harmful biases. Instead, these tools should use inclusive, representative training data to address disparities inherent in healthcare. 

Clinician and Consumer Trust 
Trust in AI/ML tools is built on explainability, transparency, and ongoing evidence of fairness and robust performance within specific populations. Policies should prioritize these elements to meet clinicians’ and consumers’ expectations for fairness and equity. 

Monitor and Evaluate AI Performance 
Effective governance requires consistent monitoring and evaluation of AI/ML tools. Policies should mandate the use of technologies to assess model performance, providing critical feedback to developers and end-users. 

Feedback Loop 
Regulatory frameworks should include standardized, easy-to-use channels for end users, patients, and caregivers to provide real-world feedback on AI/ML tools. This feedback should inform policymakers and developers about areas needing improvement or additional guardrails. 

Transparency and Patient Privacy 

Protecting Patient Data 
Policymakers must review and extend current privacy frameworks to address gaps related to AI/ML technologies. This includes developing specific standards for privacy, disclosure, and consent, empowering individuals to control the sharing and use of their personal information. 

Human Oversight and Transparency 
Clinical decisions involving AI/ML should prioritize collaboration between humans and technology to preserve patient autonomy and improve care outcomes. Patients must be informed when fully autonomous systems are used in their care. 

Interoperability and Data Harmonization 

Data Harmonization 
HIMSS advocates for developing and harmonizing standards to ensure seamless data exchange across healthcare systems. Policies should support integrating AI/ML technologies into existing workflows to maximize interoperability. 

Deidentified Data’s Role in Research 
Data governance models should facilitate authorized use and disclosure of deidentified data for research and development while considering international data-sharing requirements and varying data protection laws. 

Workforce and Sustainability 

Workforce Development 
Policies must support workforce education and training to develop the skills needed for testing, monitoring, and validating AI/ML tools post-deployment. 

Sustainability and Environmental Impact 
Regulatory frameworks should prioritize the environmental sustainability of AI/ML technologies. This includes promoting energy-efficient algorithms, minimizing the carbon footprint of AI tools, and conducting regular lifecycle assessments to evaluate their environmental impact. 

HIMSS supports its members and the industry in interpreting and implementing government health policies and regulations for the transformation of health and wellness, providing decision-makers at federal, state, local and tribal levels with educational materials and public policy recommendations on the value of health information and technology.