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Policy Initiatives and Issues
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Contact Congress
Please write your Senators and urge them to support S. 908.
Contact Congress using an e-mail letter to send directly to your own legislators.
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Technology Consortium to Advance Technologies for the Aging Legislation Introduced
CAST's policy agenda took a tremendous step forward with the re-introduction of the bill creating the Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Services (S. 908), by Senator Norm Coleman (R-MN), Senator Jack Reed (D-RI), Senator Mel Martinez (R-FL), Senator Gordon Smith (R-OR), and Senator Herb Kohl (D-WI). CAST and AAHSA thank these senators for their continued support for this legislation, which was originally introduced in the 109th Congress. This bill creates a nonpartisan congressionally mandated Consortium to evaluate the potential of technologies to help the U.S. meet the needs of our aging population. When passed, the consortium will become the first public-private partnership around technology and aging that goes beyond medical records to explore the potential of new technology to assist older adults and their caregivers in such areas as promoting independence, facilitating early disease detection, promoting greater support to caregivers and minimizing medication error.
The consortium will include 17 members appointed by the President, Senate majority leader and Senate minority leader, the Speaker of the House and the Minority leader of the House. Members will be selected from aging services providers, technology companies, universities, physician and healthcare providers, insurance and pharmaceutical companies.
We expect this bill to be introduced in the House of Representatives shortly.
Please write your Senators and urge them to support this legislation. Contact Congress using an e-mail letter to send directly to your own legislators.
Advocacy Tools for CAST's Technology Consortium Legislation
CAST Technology Issues Brief
Issues Brief
Summary of CAST’s Technology Consortium Legislation
One Page Summary
CAST Sample Letter of Support
We urge companies, universities, associations and providers to send a letter of support to their House and Senate representatives. A sample letter and CapWiz service is provided for your convenience.
Print Version: Letter of Support
Online Version: CapWiz
CAST Policy Contacts
Marsha Greenfield
Senior Legislative Counsel
(202) 508-9488
Impediments to Health IT Solutions
In spite of a continuous spiraling of healthcare costs and reimbursements, it had been difficult to address some core policy issues that inhibit the implementation of cost-effective solutions for our aging services health crisis. Until the advantages of technology-based solution seeking are recognized by policymakers and healthcare professionals, we will not be able to address current problems with a dysfunctional healthcare system in new, practicable and innovative ways.
CAST has articulated eight policy "Impediments" that currently exist, which include:
- Reimbursement for on-site wellness and healthcare systems.
- Federal funding is needed to support the development of technology for pro-active care.
- HUD regulations for senior housing should recognize the need for 'smart' cost-effective housing solutions that allow seniors extended stay in non-institutional environments.
- Cross-state licensure opportunities for nurses and physicians are needed to gain the benefit of opportunities in telehealth, wellness monitoring and remote care management.
- Real and/or perceived liability barriers are inhibiting research and development of home health and aging-in-place technology solutions.
- Challenges in a global marketplace.
- Electronic Health Records (EHR) & Personal Health Records(PHR)
- Re-engineer role delineation and scope of responsibilities for doctors, nurses, and other caregivers to maximize use of their skill sets and expand productivity both in clinical and educational arenas.
Download the complete Impediments to the Roll Out of Health IT document that discusses these issues in detail.
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