A taskforce backed by the US Federal Communications Commission (FCC) will report back later today (24 September) with proposals for boosting the take-up of mobile and wireless health services in the US. The mHealth Task Force was established earlier this year and includes the country’s two largest carriers, AT&T and Verizon Communications.

The taskforce is to outline steps to accelerate the adoption of mobile and wireless technologies that can improve healthcare while reducing costs in the US, according to the commission. The FCC has already shown its interest in this area with its allocation of spectrum for wearable body sensors, or medical body area networks, which was confirmed last week.

The FCC earlier this year convened a summit on this subject which was attended by leading companies, academic institutions as well as the US Department of Health and Human Services. In addition to the two carriers, members of the taskforce includes Partners Healthcare Systems, Qualcomm, Health Analytic Services, Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), Christus Health, Medtronic, the US Department of Health and Human Services, Alfred Mann Foundation, WellDoc, Telcare, George Washington University School of Medicine, West Health, mHIMSS and iMedicalApps.

Today’s meeting, which will be attended by FCC chairman Julius Genachowski, will present recommendations for industry and government action to promote mobile health. The event is being hosted by the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation (ITIF).