IMDA eNews 062723

The latest news affecting you and your customers…

from the Independent Medical Specialty Dealers Association

Speedier coverage for
breakthrough technologies

The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services issued a proposed notice outlining a new coverage pathway to achieve more timely and predictable access to new medical technologies for people with Medicare. The Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies (TCET) pathway would use current national coverage determination (NCD) and coverage with evidence development (CED) processes to expedite Medicare coverage of certain Breakthrough Devices. The voluntary program would provide a pre-market evaluation of potential harms and benefits of technologies while identifying any important evidence gaps. The public has 60 days to comment on the proposed notice.

Just rewards for respiratory companies

The American Association for Respiratory Care will collect members’ votes through Aug. 12 for its Zenith Award, which is intended to recognize companies in the respiratory industry for their support of the profession. Manufacturers, service organizations, and supply companies receive votes based on the quality of equipment, supplies, or services; accessibility and helpfulness of sales personnel; responsiveness; service record; truth in advertising; and support of the respiratory care profession.

EtO case mostly settled

Sterigenics, and its parent company Sotera Health, agreed to pay $408 million to hundreds of claimants to resolve ethylene oxide cases connected to its former facility in Willowbrook, Illinois, without admitting liability, according to Medical Device and Diagnostic Industry. Currently, all but three of the 882 claimants have accepted the settlement. The Willowbrook facility was closed after the Environmental Protection Agency detected high concentrations of EtO in the air near the building in 2018. The site was closed in 2019.

Nurse
shortage looks likely

A large number of American nurses want out of the
profession, raising the threat of gaping holes in healthcare, reports Bloomberg. Almost one in three registered nurses say they’re likely to
seek a different job, according to a recent survey by AMN Healthcare Services
Inc. A McKinsey & Co. study last month warned the U.S. risks a shortfall of
as many as 450,000 nurses. Job openings in healthcare surged above 2 million in
April, not far short of last year’s record.