What the midterms could mean for the future of health AI – STAT

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By Mario Aguilar
Nov. 5, 2026
Health Tech Correspondent
Mario Aguilar
Mario covers technology in health care, including FDA regulation of artificial intelligence; how Medicare pays for health tech; the use of AI in clinical care; mental health chatbots; and consumer wearables. He’s also the co-author of the free, twice weekly STAT Health Tech newsletter. You can reach Mario on Signal at mariojoze.13.
Tuesday’s midterm elections highlighted the negative sentiment around artificial intelligence across the country, with voters roundly rejecting the data centers required to power the technology on dozens of ballot measures across several states. The results echo polling that shows many Americans believe AI does more harm than good. 
An open question is how these attitudes might trickle down to legislation and policy around AI use in health care. Important issues on deck for lawmakers next year include state bills that introduce “sandboxes” to test AI products, and national legislation that might clarify the Food and Drug Administration’s authorities as well as reimbursement for AI. 
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AI has emerged as a “boogeyman” that inspires fear, and data centers as a symbol of what’s viewed as the Trump administration’s excessive coziness with the technology industry, said Eric Fish, a partner at law firm Hooper Lundy & Bookman, who formerly served as chief legal officer for the Federation of State Medical Boards. 
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Mario Aguilar
Health Tech Correspondent
Mario covers technology in health care, including FDA regulation of artificial intelligence; how Medicare pays for health tech; the use of AI in clinical care; mental health chatbots; and consumer wearables. He’s also the co-author of the free, twice weekly STAT Health Tech newsletter. You can reach Mario on Signal at mariojoze.13.
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