Medical device, dental groups urge tariff exemption to protect supply chains and patient care

Medical device group urges tariff exemption: ©Zimmytws - stock.adobe.com

A coalition of medical and dental organizations is warning that tariffs on imported medical and dental equipment could jeopardize patient care by driving up costs and disrupting fragile supply chains.

In a letter to U.S. Trade Representative Jameison Greer, the group — led by AdvaMed, the professional organization for the medical device industry — called for an exemption from tariffs on essential health care supplies, equipment, and devices.

“Given the important role of our work in making America healthy, we are concerned that tariffs placed on medical and dental equipment threaten to disrupt the supply chain and raise costs for these critical items,” the organizations wrote. “This ultimately places further financial pressure on providers, hospitals and health systems, particularly those located in rural and medically underserved areas.”

The letter was co-signed by nine additional groups, including the American Dental Association, the American Association for Homecare, and the Association of American Medical Colleges, along with patient advocacy organizations such as the Preeclampsia Foundation, Conquering CHD, Prevent Cancer, and the Sepsis Alliance.

The organizations argue that higher import costs could hinder innovation and strain health care systems already facing workforce shortages and budget constraints. Hospitals and providers could see higher prices on common medical tools ranging from diagnostic equipment to surgical instruments — many of which are manufactured or assembled abroad.

A 2020 study by the U.S. International Trade Commission found that medical equipment tariffs led to a “moderate increase” in costs and reduced import volumes in several product categories.