Labs and test makers were caught off guard by a significant reimbursement cut passed in a payroll tax cut/physician payment fix bill. The same week, President Obama submitted a 2013 budget request that targets imaging and durable medical equipment with cuts and restrictions.
Medicare cuts impacting medical technology reimbursement were in the cross hairs of the administration and Congress last week, including passage of a bill on Feb. 17 with a large payment cut for laboratories.
And earlier in the week, President Obama released his fiscal 2013 budget request including a host of familiar Medicare cost-saving proposals targeting imaging and
Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. emphasized administrative cost reductions and defended budget decisions during a Senate hearing on HHS funding. Some senators, however, expressed concerns over the impacts spending cuts had on essential health programs.
During his testimony before US senators on the impact of tariffs on critical supply chains, AdvaMed’s Scott Whitaker said the Trump tariffs could jeopardize America’s preeminence in medtech. Other industry experts echoed similar concerns.
In Vivo spoke to the previous commissioner of the US FDA about recent ongoings at the agency, and where he believes policy should be directed for patient and industry benefit.
The World Health Organization is seeking input from stakeholders to create an official definition of the term ‘diagnostics.’ This initiative follows a 2023 resolution aimed at enhancing global diagnostics capacity; the definition, it is hoped, will help drive the creation of effective health policies. Comments will be accepted until 23 May.
