Schweikert Introduces Legislation to Mandate Medicare Reimbursement for Wearables

WASHINGTON, D.C. - Congressman David Schweikert introduced the Maintaining Innovation and Safe Technology Act, legislation that would direct the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) to establish reimbursement guidance for remote monitoring devices that use AI to treat patients.

In a paper prepared by the National Bureau of Economic Research, researchers estimated that the further implementation of artificial intelligence into our health care system could produce savings from 5 percent to 10 percent of spending, which equates to around $200 billion to $360 billion annually in 2019 dollars. Forbes has also estimated that promoting the use of health-monitoring wearable devices could result $200 billion in cost-savings over the next 25 years.

"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," said Rep. Schweikert. "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 potential for wearable devices to save American lives and American dollars is expanding, and it's time for coverage to reflect that."

Background on the Maintaining Innovation and Safe Technologies Act of 2025:

• Currently, the FDA has approved over 1,016 devices that use AI or machine learning to treat, diagnosis, and care for patients.
  • AI will boost drug development in 2025
  • New FDA-approved bionic pancreas uses AI to help type 1 diabetes patients
  • Annalise.ai Receives FDA Clearance and Breakthrough Device Designation
  • AI-developed blood test can predict Parkinson's seven years early
  • Apple Watch's afib-tracking app certified by FDA for use in clinical studies
  • New FDA-approved bionic pancreas uses AI to help type 1 diabetes patients
  • Annalise.ai Receives FDA Clearance and Breakthrough Device Designation
  • AI-developed blood test can predict Parkinson's seven years early
  • Apple Watch's afib-tracking app certified by FDA for use in clinical studies
  • New FDA-approved bionic pancreas uses AI to help type 1 diabetes patients
  • Annalise.ai Receives FDA Clearance and Breakthrough Device Designation
  • AI-developed blood test can predict Parkinson's seven years early
  • Apple Watch's afib-tracking app certified by FDA for use in clinical studies
  • Harnessing the Power of AI to Design Novel Antibiotics | The Scientist
• AI has streamlined many processes for physicians, patients and hospitals, like early diagnostics/detection, analyzation of comprehensive data sets, and medication management.
• The FDA has updated the list of AI/ML-enabled medical devices marketed in the United States as a resource to the public.

You can read the full bill text here.

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Congressman David Schweikert is serving his eighth term in the United States Congress. He holds a seat on the Ways and Means Committee and is the current Chairman of the Oversight Subcommittee. He is also the Chairman of the bicameral Joint Economic Committee, Chairman of the Valley Fever Task Force, and is the Republican Co-Chair of the Blockchain Caucus, Telehealth Caucus, Singapore Caucus, and the Caucus on Access to Capital and Credit.