A new report from the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) maintains that Internet access and technologies like remote monitoring and telehealth could help more older Americans face challenges associated with aging.
PCAST is an advisory group of scientists and engineers appointed by President Barack Obama to make policy recommendations related to technology and science.
CAST Executive Director Majd Alwan, and Robyn Stone, executive director of the LeadingAge Center for Applied Research, were among the expert consultants interviewed during the development of Report to the President: Independence, Technology, and Connection in Older Age.
The Importance of Internet Access
Many of the recommendations contained in the PCAST report align with CAST’s Technology Policy Priorities. For example, the report focuses on the importance of Internet communication to promote health, social engagement, and well-being.
“Internet access at home should not be a luxury for those who can afford it,” says the report. “It has become like the telephone—a utility necessary to function in the modern world.”
The PCAST report calls for a national plan to ensure that all older people have access to broadband Internet and to technology training. PCAST acknowledges that there has been some progress in reaching these goals, including:
- The ConnectHome program, which the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) established to improve broadband access for residents of HUD-assisted housing. While the program’s main focus is on children, the report suggests that older adults living with children could also benefit from the program.
- A new requirement that all new and substantially rehabilitated HUD properties have broadband connectivity. This requirement could have a significant impact on Internet access among older people, given the number of older adults living in HUD-assisted housing properties.
Remote Monitoring
Remote monitoring, a key strategic initiative of CAST, also received significant attention from PCAST.
“Monitoring holds great promise for predicting problems and enhancing safety of people at risk,” says the report. “The Federal government could promote the needed frameworks and standards to encourage innovation and access to this service.”
Specifically, PCAST calls on the National Institute of Standards and Technology to work with the private sector to:
- Promote the development of marketing and instructional materials that ensure consumers understand the operational requirements, benefits, and risks of various monitoring technologies.
- Identify privacy and security risks in a way that does not pose undue barriers to innovation and adoption.
PCAST referred to remote monitoring devices while underscoring the importance of interoperability among all technologies.
“Technology must be interoperable in order to exchange information, such as between remote devices and health care providers,” says the report. “There are further challenges in having information flow between long-term care facilities and other health care settings, such as hospitals or outpatient clinics.”
Telehealth
The PCAST report calls for improved regulation and payment to reflect innovation in telehealth, another LeadingAge and CAST technology policy priority.
Specifically, PCAST recommends that the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services take steps to accelerate reciprocal state licensure policies for telehealth so physicians can practice telehealth across state lines. PCAST also recommends that the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Innovation use its full capacity to advance payment policies that support innovation in telehealth.
The report cites progress on this front, including the fact that many private payers and 47 Medicare programs cover some form of telehealth services. However, it also points out that “there are gaps in many plans and for many innovative services.” Those gaps include limitations on Medicare reimbursement for telehealth.
The report suggests that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services incorporate telehealth into Medicare alternative payment models and Medicaid waivers.
“Actions by these two large payers would have ripple effects and remove significant barriers,” it says.
Other Recommendations
The PCAST report also calls for:
- Greater efforts by technology providers to develop monitoring tools for frail and vulnerable elders.
- A larger government role in enforcing regulatory review and guidelines for commercial cognitive training products.
- Expanded research by an array of federal agencies on projects such as robotics and advanced mobility technology.
LeadingAge Technology Issue Brief and Action
LeadingAge and CAST produced a Technology Issue Brief for the 2016 PEAK Leadership Summit focusing on legislative action and promising opportunities in the area of aging services technologies. LeadingAge members were encouraged to discuss these issues with their senators and representatives during visits to Capitol Hill last week.
Specifically, members asked for congressional support to:
- Authorize funding to help long-term and post-acute care (LTPAC) providers adopt and use interoperable electronic health records.
- Make internet connectivity affordable for LTPAC providers in rural areas.
- Fund telehealth and telemedicine demonstration projects that engage LTPAC providers.
“I hope every LeadingAge member will read the Technology Issue Brief and help us advocate for these issues,” says Alwan. “We encourage members to contact Congress, urge their representatives to pass the relevant bills, and take further action to improve the lives of older adults by expanding their access to technology.”