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“Cut the red tape tying up e-medicine” Randy Milch, Politico, 01 25 13
Cut the red tape tying up e-medicine
Politico by Randy Milch (Executive Vice President of Public Policy & General Counsel, Verizon)
January 25, 2013
In this country, we spend $3 trillion a year on health care — almost 20 percent of gross domestic product with such costs rising at more than 5 percent a year.
In Medica Releases New Study “Telehealth to Reach 1.8 Million Patients by 2017″
“In 2012 there was estimated to be 308,000 patients remotely monitored by their healthcare provider for congestive heart failure (CHF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, hypertension and mental health conditions worldwide. The majority of these were post-acute patients who have been hospitalised and discharged.
FCC Announces $400M Healthcare Connect Fund
On Monday, FCC Chairman Julius Genachowski announced that there will be upwards of a $400 million Healthcare Connect Fund. The FCC’s new Healthcare Connect Fund will spur the build out of broadband networks to support telemedicine. This will help connect rural clinics and providers to urban medical hubs and allow for immediate access to EHRs.
Regulatory Environment for Health IT Products
Health IT has tremendous potential to improve patient care and lower healthcare costs. Consider the market explosion in consumer medical technologies:
From 2010 to 2011 there has been a 250% increase in the number of medical apps available in the iTunes App Store that would be subject to FDA evaluation.
500 Million Smartphone users will be using health apps by 2015.
The Health IT Now Coalition is pleased to support HR 436
The Health IT Now Coalition is pleased to support HR 436, the Protect Medical Innovation Act of 2011. This legislation would stop the medical device tax from being implemented while improving patient access to new innovative medical technologies and lowering health care costs.
Docket No. FDA–2011–D–0530
The popularity of mobile medical applications reflects the desire of many Americans to use technology to actively engage in their own health. The undersigned organizations believe that the FDA’s Draft Guidance for Industry and FDA Staff: Mobile Medical Applications issued on July 21, 2011 is a first step to establishing regulations for mobile medical apps, but more work needs to be done.
Coalition Commends House Passage of FDA User Fee Bill
WASHINGTON – The Health IT Now Coalition today commended members of the U.S. House of Representatives for their passage of the Food and Drug Administration User Fee Reauthorization Act. The Coalition also applauded the leadership of both the House and Senate for their swift, bipartisan negotiations to pass this critical piece of legislation.