#United States #Washington #URAC #HealthcareAI #AIAccreditation

URAC Launches the First Health Care AI Accreditation Program

On September 15, 2025, URAC, a leading independent accreditor within the health care sector, introduced a revolutionary program designed to enhance the safety, ethics, and reliability of artificial intelligence (AI) in patient care. The Health Care AI Accreditation Program serves as the first of its kind, establishing national standards that promote accountability and trust in AI applications within health care organizations.

Establishing a Trustworthy Framework

The launch of this program reflects a proactive response to a current policy framework that emphasizes innovation at the cost of patient security. While there's a pressing need for AI technologies to revolutionize health care delivery, URAC recognizes that such innovation must come with stringent oversights. Shawn Griffin, MD, President and CEO of URAC, noted, “The recent AI policy landscape prioritizes innovation but often overlooks necessary regulations. Our new accreditation program aims to create a reliable set of standards to help protect patients and providers.”

To accomplish this, URAC brought together a diverse group of 29 experts in health care AI, digital health, academia, public policy, and patient safety, forming the Health Care AI Advisory Committee. This collaboration ensured that the accreditation standards speak to the needs of all stakeholders involved, including developers, patients, and varying health care entities.

Two Distinct Accreditation Tracks

The program features two distinct accreditation paths: one aimed at AI developers and another for user organizations. The developer accreditation track is designed to validate AI systems that exemplify transparency through rigorous testing, responsible data handling, and effective management of inherent biases. This aspect of the accreditation will distinguish responsible developers from those failing to adhere to such standards.

Conversely, the user organization track provides a structured playbook for safely implementing AI technologies in clinical settings. The accreditation encompasses essential safeguards surrounding clinical supervision, patient right awareness, privacy issues, and monitoring mechanisms to track and correct errors or misinformation.

Jennifer Richards, PhD, PharmD, JD, who serves as the Senior Director of Product Management at URAC, remarked that while AI holds significant potential for improving health care efficiency—from easing nurse workloads to refining diagnostic precision—it must be deployed responsibly. “Our standards demand that organizations transparently construct and evaluate their AI systems, ensuring they disclose operational methodologies and detect inaccuracies or biases,” she stated.

Core Areas of Focus

The accreditation standards concentrate on three critical areas: risk management, operational efficiency, and performance monitoring. Organizations seeking accreditation can choose to pursue it either as a developer, a user, or both, allowing for versatile adherence based on their engagement with AI technologies.

URAC's Health Care AI Accreditation not only serves as a badge of quality for health systems but also reinforces the integrity of AI implementation while fostering ongoing innovation in health care without sacrificing patient safety. Patients can find assurance in knowing their data privacy is respected and their clinical outcomes are safeguarded against possibly inappropriate or flawed AI usage.

About URAC

With decades of experience, URAC stands at the forefront of health care quality and safety. As a non-profit organization committed to elevating standards across the industry, URAC collaborates with various stakeholders to create comprehensive, evidence-based accreditation programs. From promoting health equity to advancing telehealth and mental health initiatives, URAC is dedicated to ensuring that every patient receives safe, high-quality care. Their commitment to quality and trust was recognized when they earned Modern Healthcare's inaugural Best in Business Award in 2024. An accreditation from URAC signifies a commitment to excellence and innovation in patient care.