Sen. Lamar Alexander (R-TN), chairman of the Senate Health Committee, recently stated that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) made a wise decision in restricting the government from adding oversight and red tape to people’s Fitbit and Weight Watchers apps.
“The recent surge of innovative fitness trackers and mobile health apps is good news for Americans who want to take an active role in monitoring and improving their own health,” Alexander said. “I’m glad to see that the FDA recognizes this and has no current plans to put unnecessary government red tape between people hoping to use a Fitbit to help them get moving or a Weight Watchers application to monitor their diet.”
The FDA recently published a final statement that says the FDA will not actively regulate people’s low-risk technologies. These technologies are used only for improving general wellness, helping people to be more active and involved in their personal health.
“This is welcome guidance from the FDA and I look forward to seeing the Senate Health Committee-passed MEDTECH Act signed into law, so that this smart policy can soon become law,” Alexander said.
This past March, the committee also approved of the Medical Electronic Data Technology Enhancement for Consumer’s Health (MEDTECH) Act. The bipartisan bill promotes mobile applications, fitness trackers and similar innovative products as free from any government or FDA involvement.
