Voices of Frustration, Uncertainty in Medtech Election Perspective (Part III)

Advocating for Medtech Causes

In the medtech industry, there’s been an increase in polical activism at the local level via state-based trade groups. Thompson cites groups such as Life Sciences Alley, in Minneapolis, and the Indiana Medical Device Manufacturers Council, which have substantially increased their focus on local politics and working with members of Congress, versus traditional FDA regulatory topics. California and Massachusetts are also hotbeds for state and local activity. 

Although industry associations AdvaMed and MDMA don’t publicly endorse candidates, they remain active in voicing their concerns of this year’s hot-button issues, namely the device tax, the economy, and investment in R&D, innovation, and job growth. Both associations remain active in working with politicians on a bipartisan level to educate them and the industry about how laws and regulations affect medical device companies and the overall healthcare industry.

Post-Election Hopes

“I think we’ll see some stability happen after the election no matter which way it goes,” Czuba says. “I think with the decision of the Supreme Court—whether the healthcare mandate is [ruled] constitutional—that will allow companies to eventually get rid of this uncertainty that we now face. I hope that if this healthcare bill doesn’t move forward that we continue to work on something that becomes a recrafted version of what we already had in place with public access of healthcare, and make it something that is a shared burden for everyone—not just the people who are paying taxes or have good insurance, but everyone that takes advantage of the system pays into it.”

Regardless of the outcome of the election, Bonifacio is advising companies to shift their focus to patient outcomes and cost-efficacy benefits. “The new way that devices, therapies, procedures, and services are going to be evaluated is truly going to be based on patient outcome and the cost to get to that outcome. That’s the one thing that I see as a constant coming out in the future.”

<< Part II: The Device Tax

Maria Fontanazza is managing editor of MD+DI. Follow her on Twitter @MariaFontanazza.