Take Steps Today to Balance Innovation Adoption with Regulatory Guidelines
As artificial intelligence gains traction across healthcare, hospice providers are exploring how AI-powered tools can reduce administrative burdens, support clinical decision-making, and improve operations.
But these opportunities come with scrutiny.
With shifting federal guidance and rapidly evolving state laws, the regulatory landscape surrounding AI solutions is anything but static. According to a recent Hospice News article, the evolving regulatory landscape complicates hospices’ ability to implement and use artificial intelligence technology effectively.
For hospice leaders, the challenge is clear: how to harness the power of AI while protecting patient privacy and staying compliant. This article explores why agencies are leveraging AI tools, shares the latest in regulatory challenges, highlights best practices for balancing AI integration and remaining committed to compliance, and describes how nVoq prioritizes compliance and innovation.
Why AI in Hospice Care?
Over the history of humankind, humanity has been shaped by successive waves of technology and AI is believed by many to be the next wave of technology. The Cleveland Clinic says that AI offers the promise to revolutionize healthcare.
Despite regulatory uncertainty, the value of AI in hospice care is very apparent. AI tools can help agencies with some of the persistent challenges in today’s industry, from managing complex care needs to the documentation burden.
Hospice organizations are increasingly leveraging AI to:
- Ease administrative burden
- Boost staff retention
- Enhance compliance and operational efficiency
AI technologies help clinicians reclaim time from documentation, capture accurate and complete notes, and reduce the administrative friction that can get in the way of patient care.
Regulatory Challenges Plague Hospice Industry
While the benefits of AI are compelling, hospice providers must navigate a regulatory environment that is rapidly evolving. Often, regulatory guidelines are inconsistent across states and federal agencies.
Kathleen Snyder, senior counsel at Husch Blackwell, emphasizes the complexity of AI-specific regulations, noting that “the real action is going to be at the state level.”1 Recent shifts include:
- Federal Changes: President Biden’s executive order to safeguard AI utilization superseded President Trump’s order, citing concerns over stifling innovation.
- State-Level Initiatives: States like California have enacted laws requiring healthcare facilities to notify patients when using generative AI for clinical communications.
These developments underscore the necessity for hospice providers to stay informed and adaptable to regulatory changes.
Best Practices for Hospice Providers
Successfully adopting AI in hospice care requires more than just choosing the right technology. It also demands a thoughtful approach grounded in compliance, transparency, and ongoing education.
Here are a few tips to follow:
- Stay Informed. Regularly review both federal and state regulations related to AI and patient privacy.
- Review Technology Partners. Be sure vendors like nVoq demonstrate compliance with HIPAA and other relevant standards. And, yes even with something as new as AI, experience and tenure does matter.
- Prioritize Transparency. Adopt solutions that offer clear insights into data usage and storage practices.
- Educate Staff. Train clinicians and administrators on the ethical and legal implications of AI tools.
By following these best practices, hospice providers can move forward with confidence, enabling their AI strategies to be both effective and responsibly implemented. As an example, consider this statement from the COO of a medium size home health agency:
“Security was a critical factor in our decision-making. At one point, our native
microphone setup had to be disabled due to internal IT security standards, which meant we lost all voice-to-text functionality. That created real disruption for our clinicians. Efficiency dropped, and satisfaction took a hit.
When we re-entered the market, we weren’t just looking for any solution. We needed one that met our stringent security requirements and integrated well with our EMR. With nVoq, we found more than the basics. We found a partner who could check both boxes and deliver meaningful value.”
nVoq: Championing Compliance and Innovation
In a highly regulatory environment, nVoq stands out by offering AI solutions prioritizing innovation and strict adherence to privacy standards. A provider can:
- Protect the agency from risk
With HIPAA and SOC2 Type 2 compliance, nVoq undergoes rigorous independent audits to help meet and exceed data security and privacy standards. - Reduce documentation errors and delays
nVoq’s cloud-based voice dictation is built for home health and hospice, enabling accurate, real-time notes that support timely billing and regulatory compliance. - Know exactly where the data goes
nVoq prioritizes transparency, so you have full visibility into how patient information is captured, processed, and protected. No surprises.
By balancing the transformative potential of AI with a commitment to compliance, hospice providers can enhance clinical workflows while safeguarding privacy. nVoq’s dedication to secure, efficient, and transparent AI-powered solutions makes it a trusted partner in this journey.
For more information on nVoq’s approach to protecting patient privacy,
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1 Hospice News. (2025, May 15). Regulation complicating hospice AI implementation. https://hospicenews.com/2025/05/15/regulation-complicating-hospice-ai-implementation/
2 Cleveland Clinic. (2023, December 18). AI in healthcare: The future is here. Cleveland Clinic. https://health.clevelandclinic.org/ai-in-healthcare