This article is more than 5 years old. Information may no longer be current.

AMA employs principles to promote secure, accurate mHealth apps

The AMA recently developed a list of principles to guide coverage, payment and financial incentive mechanisms that support the use of mobile health applications and devices that are safe and effective, according to a press release.

“The new AMA principles aim to foster the integration of digital health innovations into clinical practice by promoting coverage and payment policies that are contingent upon whether [mobile health applications (mHealth apps)] and related devices are evidence-based, validated, interoperable and actionable,” Steven J. Stack, MD, immediate past president of AMA, said in the press release. “It is essential for mHealth apps [to] support care delivery that is patient-centered, promotes care coordination and facilitates team-based communication.”

The policy addresses the need to build upon evidence showing the effectiveness, security, safety and accuracy of mHealth apps.

To support the use of mHealth apps and associated devices, the AMA developed principles for promoting coverage and payment policies that:

• Encourage valid patient-physician relationships;
• ensure mHealth app safety and effectiveness through clinically based evidence;
• ensure the safety, quality of care and favorable health outcomes of the patient by following practice guidelines that are evidence-based;
• encourage patient-centered care;
• support care coordination through medical home and accountable care models;
• enable team-based communication;
• follow licensure laws and medical practice laws specific to the state where the patient receives care; and
• require physicians who provide services via mHealth apps to be licensed in their patient’s state, while following that states’ practice laws.

The new policy stresses the importance of discussing data privacy and security risks of recommended mHealth apps with patients. Physicians are encouraged to record patient’s understanding of these risks. Furthermore, applicable laws regarding patient privacy and data security must be followed by mHealth apps and devices. Concerns about whether mHealth apps meet federal or state privacy and security laws should be brought to a qualified legal counsel’s attention.

The AMA is collaborating with health care leaders in order to incorporate physicians into the creation process of mHealth apps to create more effective technologies for both the patient and physician, such as Health2047, MATTER, IDEA labs, SMART project and Omada Health, according to the release.

“From revitalizing medical practices to ensuring that digital health helps provide high-quality patient care, the AMA is striving to help physicians navigate and succeed in a continually evolving health care environment,” the organization said in the press release.

Disclosure: Healio Internal Medicine was unable to confirm any relevant financial disclosures at the time of publication.

For more information:

https://www.ama-assn.org/ama-adopts-principles-promote-safe-effective-mhealth-applications