Medtech Provisions Approved In US Budget Agreement

Medtech and funding provisions in a two-year budget deal that the US Senate and House approved early Friday morning and which were signed by the President would extend Medicate telehealth programs, remove a rental cap for speech-generating devices and strengthen competitive bidding rules to assure access to diabetic test strips, among others. 

US Capitol building, Washington DC (f11photo/Shutterstock.com)
Lawmakers passed a budget deal early Feb. 9, avoiding a government shutdown. • Source: f11 photo/Shutterstock

A two-year budget deal Congress approved early on Feb. 9 includes a series of Medicare extenders, provisions to extend and ensure reimbursements for telemedicine, the chronically ill, diabetics, and additional funding for children's health, the National Institutes of Health and those agencies affected by three 2017 hurricane disasters. The measure also includes a short-term spending bill that keeps the government funded through March 23.

The budget deal extends the current funding for the Children's Health Insurance Program from six years to 10 years, and...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Medtech Insight for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required

More from Legislation

More from Policy & Regulation

Whoops! FDA Says Company Marketed Unauthorized Device. The Company Says The FDA Is Wrong

 

A recent FDA warning letter claims a Boston firm that specializes in wearable technology marketed a blood pressure device without agency approval. The company rejects the assertion and says the agency is out of step with federal law.

With CMS Coverage Established, Medtronic Looks To Next Steps For Renal Denervation

 
• By 

US Medicare has proposed national coverage of renal denervation for patients with uncontrolled hypertension. The treatment is seeing other advances as well, with Medtronic piloting a longer catheter and a multi-organ approach and a blood test to identify the best candidates fresh on the

House Bill Calls For ‘Non-Flushable’ Label On Personal Wipes

 

The US House of Representatives passes legislation requiring manufacturers of non-flushable wet wipes to label products as ‘non-flushable," a move endorsed by the Personal Care Products Council.