Policy News

The Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) announced its  revised Code of Ethics on Interactions with Health Care Professionals (HCPs)on March 18, 2022. The medical device industry has relied on the AdvaMed Code for decades to assist with navigating complex rules concerning compliance—particularly rules regarding fraud and abuse stemming from interactions with HCPs. Notable updates to the…

Last month, we wrote that MichBio signed on to a letter opposing the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) unprecedented draft National Coverage Determination (NCD) decision to limit seniors’ access to an entire class of Alzheimer’s drugs. On April 7, CMS released a final decision to limit coverage only to people who receive Aduhelm™…

As noted in last month’s update, the process behind developing a new Medical Device User Fee Amendments (MDUFA) has been a slow slog. The current MDUFA IV is set to expire at the end of September 2022 and must be reauthorized by Congress before then or the FDA will have to cease product reviews and…

MichBio was privileged to moderate a Congressional briefing on H.R. 6000, the Cures 2.0 legislation. Several other state groups including BioNJ, Health Institute of New Jersey, California Life Sciences, Life Sciences PA, and Biocom California partnered to co-host the event. The over 125 attendees heard directly from the featured guests and bill’s sponsors, Michigan’s Rep.…

U.S. Representative Fred Upton (R-6) announced that the current term would be his last, and he will not run for re-election in November 2022. First elected in 1987, Fred (as he always asked anyone to call him) previously served on the House GOP’s leadership steering committee and chaired the powerful Energy and Commerce Committee. Additionally,…

The SBIR/STTR Programs are currently set to expire on September 30, 2022. It would be damaging to American innovation and competitiveness if these programs were to expire before a full reauthorization can be passed. The SBIR/STTR Programs enable small businesses to develop and commercialize new innovative technologies and have a proven track record of promoting competition through…

MichBio testified before the House Regulatory Reform Committee on HB 4881 and HB 4882, sponsored by Reps. Kevin Hertel (D-St. Clair Shore) and Tommy Brann (R-Wyoming) respectively, would require research facilities to offer dogs or cats used in laboratory research up for adoption prior to euthanizing them. Additionally, facilities would be required to submit annual…

Sen. Brinks (D-Grand Rapids) and Rep. Camilleri (D-Trenton) introduced SB 889 and HB 5842, respectively that would establish a Prescription Drug Affordability Board (PDAB), similar to those already established in Colorado and Maryland. These bills, along with other companion bills, make up a package that would determine rates, set limits and cap how much up-charging can be done on…

MichBio co-signed a letter from the University Research Corridor (URC) and Michigan Association of State Universities (MASU) as part of a testimony package presented to the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Universities and Community Colleges by MASU Director, Dan Hurley. Michigan has an opportunity to do a great many things to set the course for long…

Legislation that proposes to establish a Rare Diseases Advisory Council, HB 4654, had a hearing by the Senate Health Policy Committee. MichBio reiterated its desire for some changes, particularly the inclusion of a representative from the Association or a Michigan biotech/pharma company working in rare diseases. A bill substitute containing such language and a few…