The policy framework, developed by the AMA Center for Digital Health and AI, establishes enforceable protections against unauthorized AI-generated deepfakes impersonating physicians, AMA officials said. The framework is designed to modernize identity protections for physicians and close existing legal gaps that have allowed deceptive AI content to proliferate, according to the association. It specifically addresses the escalating risk posed by manipulated images, videos, and audio that can be used to impersonate medical professionals.

The framework mandates a prohibition on deceptive medical impersonation without clear, informed consent.

According to AMA representatives, deepfakes have been maliciously employed to impersonate doctors and disseminate false endorsements of unproven treatments, posing significant threats to individual patients and the healthcare system at large. The association noted that such impersonation scams undermine patient-physician relationships and erode public confidence in evidence-based care, increasing the risk of medical harm through deception.

AMA officials said that any AI-generated or altered content impersonating physicians must be explicitly prohibited when used to mislead patients by falsely conveying endorsement or authorship. The framework further establishes that failure to provide clear disclosure of synthetic content will be considered evidence of deception. These provisions set enforceable legal standards to deter unauthorized impersonation.

Consent requirements are a key component of the policy. The AMA stipulates that the use of a physician’s identity in AI-created or manipulated content requires separate, explicit opt-in consent that is never implied or bundled within general agreements. Consent must specify the intended use, audience, purpose, and duration, and must be revocable if circumstances change, according to AMA officials. This informed authorization is intended to protect physician identity rights while allowing legitimate uses of synthetic content.

To ensure transparency, the framework requires mandatory labeling of all AI-generated or altered depictions of physicians in plain language. Digital watermarks must be embedded on all synthetic physician content, and patients must be proactively notified before any interaction with synthetic professionals, the AMA said. These labeling and disclosure requirements aim to prevent patient deception and facilitate informed decision-making.

The AMA also calls for shared responsibility among platforms, hospitals, and AI vendors to prevent impersonation. The framework requires the implementation of rapid takedown mechanisms for unauthorized deepfakes and conspicuous labeling across all distribution platforms. It prohibits the use of health professional titles in AI content without authorization. The association emphasizes a multi-stakeholder approach to address deepfake threats throughout the healthcare ecosystem.

Enforcement provisions include designation of a federal agency with explicit authority to investigate violations of deepfake impersonation rules. The framework mandates preservation of relevant records and audit logs to support enforcement actions. It also calls for mechanisms to compel cooperation from violators, according to AMA officials. The association is collaborating with lawmakers, regulators, and industry partners to implement the framework and ensure regulatory oversight.

The AMA’s announcement follows growing concerns over the misuse of AI technologies in healthcare communications. The association said the framework represents a proactive step to safeguard patient safety, uphold professional integrity, and maintain public trust amid rapid advances in synthetic media. The AMA plans to continue working with federal authorities and industry stakeholders to refine and enforce these policies as AI technology evolves.

This increase exceeds the agency’s earlier advance notice estimate of 0.09%, or approximately $700 million. CMS officials attributed the higher payment rates to updated input costs, the 2026 Star Ratings that determine quality bonus payments, and refinements in risk adjustment methodologies.

The final rule includes a net average increase of 2.48% in Medicare Advantage plan payments for contract year 2027, translating to more than $13 billion in additional payments compared to 2026, according to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.

The 2026 Star Ratings, which influence 2027 quality bonus payments, underwent significant revisions under the final rule, officials said. CMS finalized the removal of the Excellent Health Outcomes for All reward measure and eliminated 11 administrative process measures from the Star Ratings system. These changes are intended to better align quality metrics with patient outcomes and contributed to the overall payment increase, CMS representatives confirmed.

Regarding risk adjustment, CMS opted not to fully adopt the proposed updates to the Medicare Advantage risk adjustment model. Instead, the agency will use the 2024 model calibrated with Original Medicare data from 2018 diagnoses and 2019 expenditures, replacing the advance notice’s suggested model based on 2023 diagnoses and 2024 expenditures. CMS also refined the exclusion of diagnosis information from unlinked chart review records in risk scoring and delayed the implementation of a risk-adjusted model building on version 28, according to the final rule published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2026.

In Medicare Part D, the rule implements several reforms mandated by the Inflation Reduction Act (P.L. 117-169). CMS eliminated the coverage gap phase, reduced the annual out-of-pocket threshold for beneficiaries, and removed cost-sharing requirements for enrollees in the catastrophic phase. The agency also formalized the Medicare Part D Manufacturer Discount Program to apply to 2027 Part D plans, officials said.

Operational changes for Medicare Advantage plans include the removal of the requirement to send mid-year notices about unused supplemental benefits. CMS also rolled back certain health equity requirements, including those related to MA utilization management committees and quality improvement programs. While the agency acknowledged public comments on these changes, CMS did not provide direct responses but indicated the input will inform future rulemaking.

CMS emphasized that the finalized policies aim to strengthen accountability and ensure the long-term sustainability of the Medicare Advantage and Part D programs. The agency highlighted three guiding principles for MA risk adjustment: simplicity, competition, and accurate risk-based payments. CMS officials said these principles support program integrity, efficient use of healthcare resources, and reduced administrative burden.

The 2027 Medicare Advantage and Part D Rate Announcement, released April 6, 2026, complements the final rule by improving payment accuracy across both programs. CMS stated that the updates reflect growth rates in underlying costs and coding differentials between Medicare Advantage and Original Medicare, ensuring payments align with beneficiary health risk.

The final rule, which revises Medicare Advantage (Part C), Medicare Prescription Drug Benefit (Part D), and Medicare cost plans, takes effect January 1, 2027. It was published in the Federal Register on April 6, 2026. CMS officials said the policies are designed to maintain a stable Medicare Advantage program that offers beneficiary choice while stewarding taxpayer funds responsibly.

The Mental Health Parity Index tool, launched by The Kennedy Forum in collaboration with Third Horizon, the American Medical Association (AMA), the American Psychological Foundation, and the Ballmer Group, offers the first real-time data on commercial insurance coverage and payments for mental health and substance use disorder treatment, officials said. Unveiled April 14, 2026, in Washington, D.C., the tool reveals significant disparities in coverage and payment compared to physical health care across 43 states and 70% of counties nationwide, according to records reviewed by The Kennedy Forum and AMA representatives.

Physicians providing mental health and substance use disorder care receive nearly 27% less in payments than those delivering physical health services, sources confirmed.

Data from the tool show that enrollees in plans from the nation’s four largest commercial health insurers face widespread inequities in in-network mental health care and substance use disorder treatment relative to physical health care in 43 states, officials said. All states analyzed exhibit disparities in payment for these services, with mental health and substance use disorder treatment paid between 16% and 59% less than physical health care on average, according to the AMA. However, inpatient mental health admissions receive per-day payments nearly twice as high as physical health admissions, the data show.

At the county level, the tool highlights that seven in 10 counties face challenges with in-network mental health care or substance use disorder treatment compared to physical health care, officials said. This contributes to difficulties for patients seeking local in-network clinicians, leading to longer wait times and increased out-of-pocket costs. The tool uses transparency files from insurers to pinpoint county-level gaps in network adequacy, providing stakeholders with detailed insights into local access issues, according to Third Horizon President Greg Williams. “For the first time, stakeholders can see plan-specific detail across geographies, enabling cost-saving and life-saving action,” Williams said.

AMA experts noted the findings align with years of health plan failures to comply with mental health parity laws. “The Mental Health Parity Index will support efforts to improve outcomes for patients,” said Dr. Ehrenfeld during a May webinar titled “Transparency in Action: The Mental Health Parity Index,” which broke down inequities in coverage and payment. AMA’s Botts expressed optimism about using the transparency data to influence policymakers and hold payers accountable for parity violations causing patient harm. The AMA urged state and federal policymakers to enforce compliance with parity laws, emphasizing the tool’s role in highlighting ongoing disparities.

The tool’s launch represents a collaborative effort to increase transparency in commercial insurance markets, officials said. The Kennedy Forum, alongside partners including the American Psychological Foundation and the Ballmer Group, developed the Index to provide real-time, plan-specific data that reveal how payers fall short despite existing parity regulations. According to the Kennedy Forum, the data illuminate how disparities in network adequacy and payment rates contribute to reliance on out-of-network care for mental health and substance use disorder treatment.

The Mental Health Parity Index is expected to expand nationally, offering health plans, employers, policymakers, and providers a clearer view of where parity breaks down, Williams said. The tool’s granular data can inform efforts to strengthen provider networks and improve patient access to mental health services. Officials noted that transparency is a critical step toward addressing systemic issues in insurance coverage and reimbursement for mental health and substance use disorder care.

The initiative builds on growing recognition of the need for parity in health insurance coverage. Despite federal and state laws requiring equal coverage for mental health and physical health services, disparities persist, according to AMA and Kennedy Forum officials. The Mental Health Parity Index aims to provide the data necessary to enforce these laws and improve equity in insurance coverage and payments nationwide.