July 26, 2010

Memorandum of Understanding Between the Federal Communications Commission & the Food & Drug Administration, Center for Devices & Radiological Health

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) released its recommendations in March 2010 to expand utilization of telehealth, telemedicine, and health technology. The FCC plan, in a chapter devoted to health care, “National Broadband Plan; Connecting America. Chapter 10: Health Care,” called for revisions to licensing, privileging, and credentialing standards to bolster adoption of e-care technologies and to permit physicians to practice medicine remotely and across state lines. To implement the National Broadband Plan, on July 26, 2010, the FCC and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced a partnership dedicated to promoting wireless-enabled telehealth devices. The FCC-FDA partnership was launched to “unleash innovation [for broadband-enabled wireless health solutions] while ensuring patient safety” according to the announcement. Via the partnership, the FCC and FDA have planned to clarify regulatory requirements and the approval process for wireless health care devices “so that consumers and health care providers can enjoy the benefits.”