mHealth Task Force Releases Its Findings and Recommendations; FCC Announces Its Wireless Health Agenda

On September 24, 2012, Federal Communications Commission (FCC or Commission) Chairman Genachowski announced plans to move forward on a number of wireless health technology initiatives, with the intention of making the use of wireless health technology a medical best practice within five years. The planned FCC actions include considering new FCC orders to promote wireless health device testing and to reform the Rural Health Care (RHC) Program, searching for a permanent FCC Health Care Director, and developing a health care stakeholder outreach plan. The initiatives come out of recommendations from an mHealth Task Force report, also released on September 24, 2012. While many Task Force recommendations and the FCC's planned actions are phrased in broad terms, together they indicate a renewed interest and focus at the FCC on health issues. This advisory summarizes the findings and recommendations in the Task Force Report and the FCC's newly announced wireless health agenda.