AUGUSTA – On Tuesday, Rep. Amy Kuhn, D-Falmouth, presented a measure before the Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services committee to clarify when and how Maine licensed health care providers can employ artificial intelligence (AI) in therapeutic settings.
LD 2082 would prohibit mental and behavioral health care providers from using AI to provide therapy as well as independent therapeutic recommendations, treatment plans and decisions independent from a licensed counselor or clinician. The measure would ensure that chatbots, such as ChatGPT, cannot be used as a replacement for live, in-person therapists.
The bill would allow licensed clinicians to optimize AI for administrative tasks, such as appointment scheduling, billing processing and insurance claims handling. With a patient or client’s explicit permission, the measure would allow the use of AI to prepare client records, record notes, identify behavioral trends and suggest external resources and referrals as long as there is direct oversight by a licensed provider.
“At its core, mental health treatment is reliant on trust, professional judgment and human connection,” said Kuhn. “AI is a tool to assist providers and clinicians in supporting their patients, but it is not a replacement. This bill seeks to protect the integrity of therapeutic relationships while allowing health care professionals to optimize modern technology to reduce any administrative burdens that might distract from patient care.”
The bill was supported by several mental health organizations throughout the state including the Maine chapter of the National Association of Social Workers, Spurwink Behavioral Health Services and Behavioral Health Community Collaborative.
“AI can assist licensed professionals and their clients but never replace them,” said Adam Bloom-Paicopolos, executive director of the Alliance for Addiction and Mental Health Services. “At a time when federal policy is pushing more people out of the healthcare system and creating pressure to cut costs at the expense of quality, [this bill] is an important safeguard for the people of Maine.”
The Health Coverage, Insurance and Financial Services Committee will hold a work session on the bill in the coming weeks.
Rep. Kuhn is serving her second term in the Maine House and represents part of Falmouth. She is the House chair of the Joint Standing Committee on Judiciary.
Contact:
Brian Lee (Kuhn) | 305-965-2744