Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed, the Medtech Association, testified before the U.S. Senate Committee on Finance in its May 14 hearing focused on the impact of tariffs on U.S. supply chains.
AdvaMed said it was the only healthcare organization invited to discuss the medical technology supply chain.
"Our industry is a critical component to keeping our health system functioning," Whitaker said. "Medtech products are not optional. They are in many respects mandatory."
Whitaker noted that the medtech industry has not historically faced tariffs due to countries recognizing the humanitarian nature of the field.
And while he praised efforts to bring manufacturing jobs back to the U.S., he cautioned that the tariff policies would put the industry at risk.
He cited high costs tied to shifting operations, medtech companies operating on a mostly fixed-reimbursement environment, and increased costs on federally funded programs.
Whitaker also shared concerns about the impact of the tariffs on the medical supply chain, in which medical devices can contain parts sourced from multiple countries.
Whitaker's testimonial can be found here.
