AB489 – Health Care Professions: Deceptive Terms or Letters: Artificial Intelligence

CALawState

Date Passed

10/11/2025

Effective Date

1/1/2026

Summary

Clarifies that laws barring use of protected health‑professional titles/letters to imply licensure apply to entities that develop or deploy AI; prohibits such uses in AI advertising or functionality and subjects violators to board oversight/enforcement.

Healthcare Implications

Provider and payer chatbots/assistants must not suggest they are licensed clinicians (e.g., 'doctor', 'nurse'). Providers and payers should update UI/marketing, disclaimers, and QA to prevent implied licensure; add checks in procurement and model governance.

Impact Level

Medium

Keywords

Transparency & Governance; Clinical Quality & Efficacy; Safety & Risk

Stakeholders

Providers & Health Systems; Patients & Public; Regulators & Government