Washington, DC -- In an effort to identify, develop, and apply new technologies that will improve health care for more senior citizens, U.S. Senator Jack Reed (D-RI) today unveiled a bipartisan initiative to study how technological advances can be used to improve health care treatment for Americas rapidly growing senior population.  The Consortium on the Impact of Technology in Aging Services Act, which Reed introduced with Norm Coleman (R-MN), will provide funds to establish a commission to assess how new technologies can improve the health care system for our nation's seniors, reduce costs, and enable more senior citizens to live independently.Reed, a member of the Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee stated: This is vitally important legislation. It seeks to bring technology to bear on issues affecting seniors and the delivery of health care.  The greater use of technology can provide better quality care, as well as more efficient, effective, and less costly care. This legislation will bring together experts from the medical, aging, and technology fields to build a vision and a framework for the development and implementation of a 21st century health care system able to meet the needs of our burgeoning aging population.According to the U.S. Census Bureau, by the year 2050, about 21% of the U.S. population will be age 65 or older, compared to just 12% in 2000.Rhode Island exceeds the national average of citizens over the age of 65, as well as those over the age of 85.  Almost 15 percent of the Ocean State's population is over the age of 65 today.  According to Census Bureau estimates, the number of elderly is expected to increase to 18.8 percent of Rhode Islands population by 2025.  The task-force created by this legislation would be a public-private partnership charged with:" fostering scientific innovation with respect to aging services technology within the business and academic communities;  " finding methods for identifying technology that can be adapted to meet the needs of seniors, individuals with disabilities, and the caregivers of such seniors and individuals across all aging services settings;  " outlining strategies for addressing issues such as liability, reimbursement, and privacy and security concerns, with respect to innovation in aging services technology;  " examining developments in aging services technology in other countries that may be applied in the United States; and  " looking at methods for ensuring that businesses in the United States have a leadership role in the rapidly expanding global market of aging services technology. Reed also noted that the efficiency gains and preventative capacity of health technology could help control rising healthcare costs and ensure that Americas technology industry remains competitive in the global marketplace.The application of new technology in the aging health care services field can free up doctors and allow them to spend more time caring for patients and less time with paperwork. Technology can also allow family members to keep in better contact with an aging loved one who may need monitoring and could identify changes in their health condition before a serious problem arises. Smarter applications of technology in caring for seniors coould also enhance Americas economic well-being. If we invest wisely, smarter technology will save lives and save tax payers money, concluded Reed.Our aim is nothing short of re-inventing healthcare as we know it today, said Kathy Bakkenist, Vice President of Strategy and Operations for Ecumen and chair of the public policy committee of the Center for Aging Services Technology (CAST). We know consumers dont want an institutional, medical model of care they want a model focused on prevention, wellness and autonomy. This bill provides the impetus for innovation and technology advances across the public and private sectors in ways that will create meaningful change.