Last week, Gary Shapiro, President and CEO of the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), joined Congressman Troy Balderson (R-Ohio) and Congresswoman Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) at the Rayburn Office Building on Capitol Hill to announce the formation of the new Congressional Digital Health Caucus. The caucus will concentrate on developing policies to promote digital health technologies.
According to a press release by the CTA, the newly formed Congressional Digital Health Caucus will serve as a platform for government and industry experts to discuss and collaborate on policies aimed at integrating digital health technologies into the healthcare ecosystem more comprehensively. Since its launch on February 7, notable members such as Rep. Jeff Duncan (R-S.C.), Rep. Terri Sewell (D-Ala.), Rep. Kevin Hern (R-Okla.) and Rep. Richard Hudson (R-N.C.) have joined the caucus.
Shapiro said in the press release, "We know getting things done on the Hill isn't always easy. But this is a bipartisan priority, and the Digital Health Caucus will address issues we should all get behind: helping Americans access and afford quality health care—and helping American tech companies and other innovators leading the way in this space. That means public policies that support health innovation."
The CTA press release further revealed that following the launch announcement, an expert panel discussed how artificial intelligence technologies could be integrated into healthcare systems. The panel comprised Peter Clardy, senior clinical specialist at Google; David Rhew, global chief medical officer and VP of Healthcare at Microsoft; Maulik Shah, general counsel at Hippocratic AI; and Angela A. Shippy, senior physician executive and clinical innovation lead at Amazon Web Services.
Kelly, co-chair of the caucus, stated in her official statement that "From telehealth visits to virtual treatment monitoring, digital technology is transforming medicine and improving prevention and treatment options at a rapid pace." She added that "The Digital Health Caucus will work to ensure that historically marginalized communities have equal access to these groundbreaking advancements. By incorporating the responsible use of technology into our caring systems, patients will be able to access ever-growing possibilities for treatment and prevention."
