Policy Research Grants

Funding For:

The Effect of Ambient AI Scribes on Productivity, Coding Intensity, and Spending

Health Care Costs & Quality / Health Care Technology & AI


Recipient:

Hannah Neprash, University of Minnesota

Grant Period:

Jan 01, 2026 - Dec 31, 2026

AMOUNT:

$49,996.00

Summary of the Project:

Ambient scribes may alleviate clinician documentation burden and improve patient satisfaction by facilitating better clinical interactions. However, they may also increase health care spending due to increased clinician productivity or more intensive service and diagnostic coding. This study will analyze the effect of ambient scribes on visit volume, diagnostic coding, share of high-intensity visits, and total and per-visit spending. By analyzing these outcomes in multiple sources of nationwide data on publicly and privately insured populations, this analysis will provide policymakers with the evidence necessary to encourage innovation without sacrificing affordability.

 

Research Team: 
Hannah Neprash, University of Minnesota
Paige Nong, University of Minnesota

Grantee Publications

January 2026

Unintended Consequences of Using Ambient Artificial Intelligence Scribes for Billing

Learn More

Author: Paige Nong & Hannah T. Neprash