Senate Panel Passes Breakthrough Device, Other Measures; FDA Funding Debated
The Senate HELP Committee voted March 9 in favor of a breakthrough device provision, watered down from a version approved in the House last year. Other bills voted out of committee include a combination products reform measure, the digital-health focused MEDTECH Act, and four others. Senators are still debating whether NIH and FDA should get additional funds to cover the cost of the bills, which will be wrapped up into a broader package before Senate floor debate.
More from Legislation
Children with biliary atresia (BA) exhibited neurodevelopmental deficits and increased autism traits, with earlier surgery linked to better general neurodevelopment.
Multi-cancer diagnostics can help get oncology patients the treatment they need more quickly, but lack of reimbursement has kept such tests out of reach for many patients. Bills providing coverage have passed or are under consideration in more than half of the states and have been introduced in both houses of US Congress.
A government report requested by US lawmakers Debbie Dingell and Anna Eshoo to review the FDA’s postmarket surveillance of medical devices stresses that strengthening the system is critical to addressing adverse events linked to devices after they hit the market.
A bipartisan bill now in the US Senate seeks to change the classification of implantable hearing aid devices to allow Medicare to reimburse for the devices, potentially expanding access for many Americans who require them.
More from Policy & Regulation
This week, Establishment Labs Holdings announced the FDA gave it premarket approval for Motiva breast implant, Cologuard lands FDA approval for Cologuard Plus and GE HealthCare gets FDA nod for a new imaging agent. The FDA announces another expansion for TAP into ophthalmology and radiology. The AAMI and CTA will join forces to develop standards for AI and ML-enabled health care products.
Children with biliary atresia (BA) exhibited neurodevelopmental deficits and increased autism traits, with earlier surgery linked to better general neurodevelopment.






