Responding to White House Call, CTA Launches Telehealth Tech Portal

The Consumer Technology Association (CTA) and the American Telemedicine Association (AMA) have joined to launch TechHealthDirectory.com, a directory of digital health technologies. 

The site provides a database of telehealth tech that doctors and patients can search for access to medical devices, remote monitoring services, mental health services, and more. 

Related: White House Talks Coronavirus with Tech Giants 

CTA and ATA called the site: "[our] response to an urgent federal government request amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic." 

Related: ITI Launches Guide to COVID-19 Response Resources 

That request came from the White House's Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP) and U.S. Chief Technology Officer Michael Kratsios, who last month asked tech companies to "create a resource identifying digital health products, tools, and services to assist the health care industry..." 

Related: White House-Backed Ed Tech Site Launches 

“The Trump Administration recognizes the power of telemedicine and digital health solutions in keeping Americans healthy and safe during this unprecedented time, making it a priority to expand access for patients and doctors alike," said Kratsios of the new portal. "We thank our Nation’s technology leaders for continued action as part of this truly whole-of-America response to the pandemic.” 

Related: OSTP Calls for AI Mining of COVID-19 Database 

“Our industry improves lives and uses innovation to help during times of crisis – and we are now rising to the challenge,” said CTA President Gary Shapiro. “This website will help the health care industry find telehealth solutions and address medical conditions. Our industry is proud to volunteer our time and expertise to offer help during a critical time of need. While much is still uncertain about the outbreak of COVID-19, there have never been more innovative tech solutions available to us all.” 

Elsewhere, Congress earmarked $300 million for FCC telehealth programs in the CARES Act COVID-19 aid package and the Department of Health and Human Services as expanded Medicare coverage for telehealth and is waiving potential HIPAA penalties for "good faith use of telehealth during the emergency." 

John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.