In an increasing world of digitisation, the health sector is not far behind. This year marked significant shifts in digital health law, with the U.S. and global contributors making substantial updates. A recent report unpacks the developments that have shaped the digital health landscape throughout the year.
Two main areas of focus have cropped up in digital health law – the state-level digital health privacy regulations and the Drug Enforcement Administration (“DEA”)’s handling of digital health-related issues.
States’ responses to the regulation of digital health privacy was the first area of exploration. Instead of adhering to a federal standard, individual state’s regulations have been increasingly brought into play. These laws encompass a vast demographic, influencing not just digital health providers based within the respective states, but also those primarily operating elsewhere.
Moving towards the second focus – a nationwide concern – the DEA’s actions in relation to digital health law has been put under the spotlight. While the report does not provide an exhaustive account of the DEA’s specific moves, its developments in handling digital health matters have been highlighted, indicating a phase of active policy enforcement in this area.
As we move into the future, the regulation of digital health law manifests itself as a dynamic field. With both state-level and national interventions shaping the practice, keeping abreast of changes is vital for every professional working in digital health.