A KFF Health News investigation found that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has operated a 1,700-member Slack channel that gives technology companies a private forum to influence U.S. healthcare AI policy. The group includes executives from Microsoft, Google, OpenAI and Apple, along with investors and Trump administration officials. It has been active since August 2025 and focuses on AI-powered health apps and access to patient medical records.
The arrangement has raised transparency concerns. Legal experts say the workspace may function like a federal advisory committee, which should operate in public view.
In February, members were invited to an exclusive private FDA listening session on conversational AI. Officials reportedly discussed prioritizing apps from the group for a new federal reimbursement program and described the initiative as a potential sales engine for participating companies.