© 2024 Maine Public | Registered 501(c)(3) EIN: 22-3171529
Play Live Radio
Next Up:
0:00
0:00
0:00 0:00
Available On Air Stations
Scroll down to see all available streams.

King Touts Bill to Cut Red Tape on Low-Risk Health Technology

Maine U.S. Sen. Angus King told a conference on medical technology in Washington that legislation he is co-sponsoring will reduce the federal regulatory burden imposed on new health technology. by the federal Food and Drug Administration based on outdated laws.

King says the goal of the measure is simple: to lighten the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's regulatory requirements for so-called low-risk software - "the kinds of things you might have on your iPhone to keep track of how many steps you take, or your pulse, those kinds of things," King says.

King says the regulations the FDA imposes on new drugs and medical equipment are not needed on health software. He says a similar bill has bipartisan support in the House and he hopes Congress can pass the measure this year.

Journalist Mal Leary spearheads Maine Public's news coverage of politics and government and is based at the State House.