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U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
Office of Information Technology (OIT)

Artificial Intelligence Disclosure

Public Notice of Use of Artificial Intelligence for Administrative Functions

The Indian Health Service (IHS) provides this public notice to inform individuals, Tribal partners, and stakeholders about the agency’s use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) to support administrative functions. This notice is provided in accordance with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) Memorandum M-21-06 (Guidance for Regulation of Artificial Intelligence Applications) and OMB Memorandum M-25-21 (Managing Artificial Intelligence in the Federal Government).

Scope of AI Use

IHS uses AI systems in limited, non-clinical administrative contexts to improve efficiency, accuracy, and service delivery. These uses may include:

  • Drafting and summarizing internal documents
  • Assisting with correspondence and routine communications
  • Data organization and classification
  • Supporting administrative workflows (e.g., scheduling, records management)

AI is not used to make final determinations regarding patient care, eligibility for services, or other decisions that directly affect individual rights or benefits without appropriate human oversight.

Human Oversight

All AI-assisted outputs are reviewed by qualified IHS personnel before use in official agency actions. Human review ensures:

  • Accuracy and completeness
  • Compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and policies
  • Protection of individual rights and Tribal sovereignty

No administrative decision with legal or material impact is made solely by AI.

Data Protection and Privacy

IHS is committed to safeguarding sensitive information, including Protected Health Information (PHI), Personally Identifiable Information (PII), and Tribal data. AI systems used by IHS:

  • Operate in secure, authorized environments
  • Are subject to Federal privacy and security requirements, including the Privacy Act and HIPAA, where applicable
  • Do not use sensitive data for model training unless explicitly authorized and compliant with Federal standards

Risk Management and Governance

IHS implements AI in accordance with Federal risk management frameworks and governance requirements, including:

  • OMB Memoranda M-21-06 and M-25-21
  • NIST AI Risk Management Framework (AI RMF)
  • HHS and IHS internal AI governance policies

AI systems undergo appropriate review, testing, and monitoring to identify and mitigate risks, including bias, inaccuracy, and unintended impacts.

Transparency and Accountability

IHS is committed to transparency in its use of AI. This includes:

  • Providing public notice of AI use in applicable contexts
  • Maintaining documentation of AI systems and their intended purposes
  • Ensuring accountability through internal oversight mechanisms

Individuals may request additional information about AI use in IHS administrative processes through appropriate agency channels.

Limitations

AI systems used by IHS are tools to assist personnel and are not a substitute for professional judgment. Output generated by AI may be incomplete or inaccurate and must be verified by human reviewers.