Medical Innovation Bills On Fast Track In Congress, But Some Barriers Remain

With an all-Republican House, Senate and administration lined up to lead the government following the 2016 elections, the path is clear for passage of a set of FDA reforms to ease device approvals embedded in a combined House 'Cures' and Senate medical innovation package. It could even happen over the upcoming lame-duck session, before the new administration and Congress take over. But controversy around price-gouging by drug firms still could stymie quick Cures bill passage, an industry attorney predicts. Meanwhile, medtech industry groups plan to seize on the Trump victory as a means to achieve permanent device tax repeal.