Exploring the AI Revolution in Healthcare: Opportunities and Risks for Equity and Quality of Care

The integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into the healthcare sector is transforming the industry in unprecedented ways. This fact sheet delves into the potential of AI to revolutionize healthcare by improving the quality of care, reducing barriers to access, and promoting health equity within systems like Medi-Cal. It highlights key use cases across areas such as back-office operations, clinical support, population health, and health workforce solutions.

However, with its benefits come risks that must be addressed. One major concern is algorithm bias and inequity, which can perpetuate existing disparities when algorithms are based on biased or unrepresentative data. Other risks include data breaches, job losses, and disparities in access to the advantages offered by AI. To mitigate these risks, it is crucial to be mindful of issues related to data privacy, informed consent, algorithm bias, responsible oversight, and equitable access as AI tools and solutions become more widely adopted in healthcare.