NE Valley Times

Congressman David Schweikert has introduced the Maintaining Innovation and Safe Technology Act, which aims to mandate Medicare reimbursement for wearable devices that utilize artificial intelligence (AI) for patient treatment. This legislation directs the Department of Health and Human Services to create guidelines for reimbursing remote monitoring devices.

A study by the National Bureau of Economic Research estimates that further integration of AI in healthcare could save 5% to 10% in spending, amounting to approximately $200 billion to $360 billion annually based on 2019 dollars. Additionally, Forbes predicts that encouraging the use of health-monitoring wearables could result in $200 billion savings over the next 25 years.

Rep. Schweikert emphasized his commitment to AI integration, stating, "My fixation on AI integration and the utility it provides to delivering the personalized care that patients deserve continues to grow. This legislation embraces the morality that is tied to implementing innovation further in our health care system." He added, "Automating the organization and collection of patient information has proven to reduce physician burden, detect health irregularities quicker, and provide hundreds of million dollars in savings each year."

The FDA has approved over 1,016 devices using AI or machine learning for patient care. Notable advancements include a new FDA-approved bionic pancreas for type 1 diabetes patients and an Apple Watch app certified by the FDA for atrial fibrillation tracking in clinical studies.

Congressman Schweikert is currently serving his eighth term in Congress. He holds positions on several committees including as Chairman of both the Oversight Subcommittee and Joint Economic Committee.