Bill aims to lower healthcare costs with wireless technology

Rep. Scott Peters (D-Calif.) introduced a bill he says could bend the healthcare cost curve by harnessing wireless technologies to help patients better manage chronic diseases.

The bill, known formally as H.R. 3577 and dubbed the Health Savings Through Technology Act, would establish a commission to examine the medical effectiveness and potential cost savings associated with wireless health information technologies and develop a plan to integrate them into federal healthcare programs such as Medicare and Medicaid.

According to Peters, the impact on managing the care of chronically ill patients could be significant. Nearly half of all Americans have at least one chronic disease, as reported by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But more than 300 million Americans also have mobile subscriptions that could enable them and their providers to keep track of and direct care through a wireless device, and in turn, cut down on clinical visits and save on costs within a $2.7 trillion healthcare industry.

“The vast majority of Americans now use some sort of mobile device today; people can now monitor glucose levels, track calories, or be alerted to harmful drug interactions over their phone or tablet,” Peters said in a news release that referenced a 2007 study showing that remote monitoring programs reduced hospital admission rates for chronic heart failure by 21% and achieved annual savings of more that $10 billion.

Co-sponsors of the bill include Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va.), Rep. John Garamendi (D-Calif.), Rep. Michael Honda (D-Calif.), Rep. Jackie Speier (D-Calif.), Rep. Eric Swalwell (D-Calif.), and Rep. Juan Vargas (D-Calif.).

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