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US FDA User-Fee Bill Swiftly Passes US House, Now Moves To Senate

 
• By Sue Darcey

The FDA Reauthorization Act, which would reauthorize the MDUFA IV user-fee agreement and enact additional device regulatory reforms, passed the US House July 12 on a unanimous vote. Lawmakers applauded the bill's inclusion of device facility inspection reforms and an over-the-counter hearing aid provisions. The legislation now moves to the Senate, where a crowded legislative schedule could mean delayed consideration.

[Editors' note: Follow progress with legislation impacting the device and diagnostics industry with Medtech Insight's US Congress Tracker.]

The House unanimously passed H.R. 2430, the FDA Reauthorization Act of 2017, which would reauthorize the MDUFA IV user-fee agreement for the next five years, including about $1bn in device user-fee collections tied to a series of FDA performance commitments, on a unanimous July 12 vote. (Also see "User-Fee Facts: 10 Key Medtech Details From US FDA Agreements" - Medtech Insight, 11 May, 2017.) In addition,

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Health Secretary Defends Spending Cuts During Senate Hearing On HHS Budget

 
• By Elizabeth Orr

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.

Tariffs Threaten Medtech Innovation And US Position As World Leader, Whitaker Tells Lawmakers

 
• By Brian Bossetta

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.

‘The FDA Will Be Looking For Avenues To Regulate Laboratory Developed Tests’

 
• By Natasha Barrow

The FDA's final LDT ruling was struck down in federal court last month. For now, diagnostic companies can commercialize under CLIA regulations or apply for FDA approval. McDermott and Tribun Health have shared insights on the risks, pros and cons of both regulatory routes.

Keep An Eye On Landmark Global Pandemic Treaty, Experts Advise

 
• By Neena Brizmohun

Mechanisms in the draft treaty that the more than 190 member states of the World Health Organization have finally agreed to are expected to “materially affect companies,” particularly those that develop, manufacture or distribute pandemic-related health care products.

More from Policy & Regulation

‘Help Us Deregulate’: RFK Announces RFI For Trimming Government Health Agencies

 
• By Brian Bossetta

HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. is asking the public to help cut waste across the government’s health agencies. Kennedy announced a 60-day comment period allowing the public to take part in a broader federal initiative to reduce regulations and increase transparency.

MedTech Europe’s Bisazza Urges Action As US Tariffs Jeopardize Critical Global Supply Chains

 
• By Amanda Maxwell

The intricate assembly of medical devices, often involving over 1,000 globally sourced components, faces severe disruption due to new US tariffs. These barriers could halt production and devastate small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), MedTech Europe’s CEO, Oliver Bisazza, warns in an interview with Medtech Insight.

UK Medtech Regulators Must Ensure Certainty So Businesses Can Plan Their Futures

 
• By Ashley Yeo

With medtech businesses typically managing investment cycles on a three- to five-year basis, local regulatory processes and forward costs of market entry must offer an attractive environment in which companies can plan for growth, says McDermott Will and Emery’s partner and head of healthcare and life sciences, Sharon Lamb. Broad-scale improvements to NICE’s evaluation offerings would similarly enhance the UK’s value to innovators.