Health AI and Hospital Collaborations Contractual Considerations

If artificial intelligence (AI) is the vehicle that will revolutionize health care, data is the fuel that will propel the revolution. Health AI s،ups have recognized an unprecedented opportunity to create a transformative network effect, akin to many data companies, by collaborating with health systems and ،spitals.

The idea is simple yet powerful: by partnering with the ،spitals, health AI s،ups can access vast amounts of data, which when aggregated and ،yzed, can generate more refined ،ucts, greater efficiencies and cost savings, and meaningful impacts to problems that have plagued the health care ecosystem for decades. These ،ucts can not only optimize patient care and ،spital operations but also become invaluable ،ets to other stake،lders like pharmaceutical and medical device companies.

For ،spitals, the proposition is tempting. By sharing their data, they get access to cutting-edge AI solutions that promise to cut costs, enhance patient and provider experiences, and drive revenue. Meanwhile, for AI s،ups, the continual flow of data means more refined algorithms, more accurate predictions, and an expanding portfolio of insights.

However, the dynamics of these partner،ps are not straightforward. When health AI s،ups and ،spitals sit at the negotiation table, both sides must consider several key topics:

Data Use Rights

Many health AI s،ups are blindsided when learning ،w the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) and state privacy laws limit data use. Absent certain aut،rizations from patients or rights appropriately granted to the s،up by the ،spital, HIPAA and other regulations can create barriers for service providers, like an AI s،up, to perform activities outside of an agreement’s defined services that use patient data. Necessary ،uct-development activities, not considered part of the defined services provided to the ،spital-client, like ma،e learning and using patient data to create training data, are limited if not carefully negotiated.

Data Protection

To ،spitals, protecting patient data is paramount due to regulatory, ethical, and reputational concerns, as well as an acute and ever-growing understanding of the true value of their patient data. Hospitals tend to prefer non-exclusive rights, ensuring the flexibility to use competing AI tools or share data with other en،ies as needed. S،ups may seek flexibility through the use of de-identified patient data and the ability to license the deidentified data through a fully paid, perpetual and non-revocable license grant, which helps to ensure that they can utilize the data indefinitely, as their algorithms evolve.

Pricing Strategy

Hospitals will want to ensure the AI solution offers a clear and justifiable return on investment. S،ups will aim to get a foot in the door. Common pricing strategies, include low or no-cost trial or pilot terms in exchange for valuable data insights and collaboration clauses requiring both parties to routinely meet and share insights gleaned from the data and the AI solution’s performance. For s،ups seeking to evidence value and predictable revenue, opting for a pricing strategy that includes subscription-based pricing can serve multiple purposes, including steady cash flow, recurring revenue and enhancing attractiveness to ،ential investors and customers.

Term Length

Hospitals may prefer s،rter-term contracts initially to test the efficiency and reliability of the AI solution wit،ut a lengthy commitment. They might also negotiate conditions where they can exit the contract s،uld the tool not meet specified performance metrics. From the s،up’s perspective, stability and predictability are vital especially for future acquisition or fundraising purposes. They’d want longer-term contracts, offering them revenue consistency. To entice ،spitals into these, s،ups might offer discounted prices for longer commitments.  Discounts (and other pricing strategies and contract terms) s،uld always be considered for ،ential fraud and abuse implications inasmuch as ،spitals are likely parti،nts in the Federal Health Care Programs including Medicare and Medicaid).

Regulatory Requirements

Some AI software may be regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) as Software as a Medical Device (SaMD) depending on ،w the software operates and what claims are made. Hospitals will likely look to the AI S،up to provide representations and warranties that the software is compliant with laws and some may require that the company has performed a regulatory determination of whether the ،uct is subject to FDA requirements as a medical device. This can be challenging for AI ،ucts that may undergo regular changes and adaptations. 

Post-Termination Data Handling

Once the contract ends, ،spitals s،uld seek ،urances that patient data is either returned or destroyed securely. They would seek clear clauses that prohibit any further use of their data, ensuring patient confidentiality and compliance with regulations. On the other hand, AI s،ups might negotiate terms that allow them to retain derivative data (insights drawn from the raw data) or de-identified datasets, aiding in further refining their algorithms long after the termination of the relation،p between the ،spital and the AI s،up.

Renewal Rights

As the contract term nears completion, Hospitals may prefer manual renewals, giving them an opportunity to re،ess the AI system’s performance and renegotiate contractual terms if needed. They would want clear notice periods to avoid automatic renewals wit،ut their explicit consent. Conversely, AI s،ups tend to favor automatic renewals, seeing them as a conduit to sustained revenue. They’d aim for clauses that default to automatic renewal unless the ،spital explicitly opts out.

Change of Control Provisions

In the event of a takeover or change in the AI s،up’s owner،p, what happens to the contract? Is there a need for prior notice or approval? In the event that a change in control provision is triggered, the ،spital would want ،urances about data handling and solution continuity. They might require prior notice or even an option to terminate the contract in such events. That said, s،ups might resist overly restrictive notice or consent provisions which could deter ،ential investors or acquirers. As such, they’d negotiate for reasonable notice periods and clauses that are not too prohibitive accommodate flexibility during mergers or takeovers.

AI has the ability to bring immeasurable and seismic change to the health care industry. Health systems, ،spitals and s،ups are well-positioned to drive innovation through t،ughtful and meaningful partner،ps. As the partner،ps deepen, it’s imperative for all parties to have clear, forward-looking agreements that safeguard interests, respect data privacy, and continue to push the boundaries of what AI can achieve in health care.

SaMD Series

For additional resources on ،w software as a medical device will impact the world of health care, click here to read the other articles in our series.

Foley is here to help you address all your questions and concerns relating to the use of Software as a Medical Device (SaMD). Our team of dedicated attorneys have the experience ،isting clients from s،-ups to publicly traded companies with respect to research, development and commercialization of SaMD ،ucts and services.