Innovative technologies like AI and machine learning are reshaping health care — from improving diagnostic accuracy to streamlining care coordination and empowering patients with real-time data. Advancements in wearables and connected devices are pushing this transformation even further, putting greater control in the hands of patients. This is more important than ever as patients across the country face incredible barriers to accessing care with 77+ million Americans living in a primary care shortage area.

At the Consumer Technology Association (CTA)®, our member companies are bridging these barriers. Take the Sleep apnea risk detection feature available through Samsung’s Health Monitor app. It’s the first FDA-cleared obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) risk detection feature for consumer wearables. OSA remains an incredibly underdiagnosed condition and can lead to serious consequences such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and depression. Moreover, undiagnosed cases of sleep apnea cost the system approximately $149.6 billion annually. But technology isn’t just transforming how OSA is detected — now, instead of time- and resource-intense sleep labs, patients can often complete sleep tests to screen for OSA in the comfort of their homes using at-home monitors like the NightOwl by Resmed.

This is just one example of how technology holds the promise to greatly improve health outcomes and lower costs. CTA research has found that most health care providers (58%) feel digital health solutions help ease the burden on the U.S. health care system and that consumers are overall fairly or extremely satisfied with these solutions (80%). 

But as we embrace the promise of digital health, we must also confront a core truth: none of this innovation matters if Americans don’t trust that their personal health data is protected.

The challenge of advancing and securing digital health is three-fold. Patients will not adopt tools they do not trust. Providers will not recommend platforms that they believe put patients at risk. And companies cannot innovate at scale if they are navigating conflicting, outdated or unclear data laws. 

According to CTA research, 30% of providers surveyed said evidence of increased security of patient data would help drive better adoption. At the same time, the collection and sharing of health information is critical to improving care quality, ensuring patient safety and driving innovation that benefits consumer health. 
The current privacy framework — rooted in the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) — is outdated and incomplete. Many consumer-facing digital health manufacturers and deployers are not considered covered entities under HIPAA and often are not subject to business associate agreements with a HIPAA-covered entity.

That’s why CTA gathered a working group of technology companies, telehealth and remote patient monitoring companies, health care providers, commercial payers and other innovators to develop the Guiding Principles for the Privacy of Personal Health Data. This voluntary framework is designed to help companies, especially those outside HIPAA’s scope, implement responsible data practices. Health data privacy and security are continually evolving, requiring ongoing collaboration among technology stakeholders, healthcare providers, patients and regulators. As patient preferences and comfort with technology evolve, so too will products and services. 

Today’s consumers want to be active participants in their own care — tracking their wellness, staying informed and sharing data with doctors, apps, caregivers and family members.

A well-structured national framework would improve consumer protection while fostering regulatory certainty that spurs American innovation. René Quashie, Vice President of Digital Health at CTA, testified before the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor & Pensions in support of a single innovation-friendly, national privacy law to achieve this balance.  

CTA remains ready to work with Congress, the health care sector, technology stakeholders and consumers to build trust and unlock the future of secure digital health.

Find out more about CTA’s work in digital health on our website or sign up for our Digital Health newsletter to stay up-to-date on CTA’s latest research and news.