FCC Task Force Goal: Use Of mHealth Should Be Routine Medical Best Practice Within 5 Years

The Federal Communications Commission plans to act on recommendations from a new mHealth Task Force report unveiled at an event hosted at the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF). Chairman Genachowski announced that the FCC would collaborate with its federal partners and the private sector to meet the mHealth Task Force’s goal that mHealth technology be a routine medical best practice within five years. Chairman Genachowski also announced the establishment of a new position to coordinate the agency's health care efforts across the government.

At the event, the mHealth Task Force released its report outlining recommendations to the FCC, other federal agencies, and to industry, to accelerate the adoption of mHealth technologies for improved health outcomes and reduced costs across the health care system.

The mHealth Task Force recommendations are:

• Goal 1: FCC should continue to play a leadership role in advancing mobile health adoption.
• Goal 2: Federal agencies should increase collaboration to promote innovation, protect patient safety, and avoid regulatory duplication.
• Goal 3: The FCC should build on existing programs and link programs where possible in order to expand broadband access for healthcare.
• Goal 4: The FCC should continue efforts to increase capacity, reliability, interoperability and RF safety of mHealth technologies.
• Goal 5: Industry should support continued investment, innovation, and job creation in the growing mobile health sector