Say hello to MassDevice +7, a bite-sized view of the top seven med-tech stories of the week. This latest feature of MassDevice.com’s coverage highlights our seven biggest and most influential stories from the week’s news to make sure you’re up to date on the headlines that continue to shape the medical device industry.
If you read nothing else this weekend, make sure you’re still in the know with MassDevice +7.
7. Certain J&J insulin pumps destined to fail over software issue
Johnson & Johnson subsidiary Animus Corp. warns that certain of its Animas insulin pumps will become defunct at the stroke of midnight on December 31, 2015.
6. Device tax: Opponents in Senate look for new avenues for repeal
Medical device tax opponents Sens. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) and Al Franken (D-Minn.) discuss ways in which repeal efforts failed and look for new in-roads to bring back the fight.
5. Whistleblower claims Siemens’ China division fired him for exposing bribery scheme
Whistleblower Meng-Lin Liu accuses Siemens China of engaging in an illegal kickbacks scheme and of firing him when he brought evidence to the company’s regional CFO.
4. GPO Novation fights device tax price hikes
Group purchaser Novation is "taking a firm stance" against medical device makers billing healthcare providers to cover the cost of a 2.3% sales tax.
3. 1 in 3 metal hips may fail in under 5 years, J&J analysis finds
Nearly 40% of Johnson & Johnson subsidiary DePuy Orthopaedics’ recalled ASR metal-on-metal hip implants may fail within 5 years, according to an internal analysis uncovered during a patient injury lawsuit.
2. Sen. Grassley chides White House on missing Sunshine Act rules
Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) calls for the Obama Administration to put the final touches on the Physician Payments Sunshine Act, a bill that Grassley co-authored and introduced in 2007.
1. FDA abandons off-label marketing protection ruling
Federal officials decide not to appeal a recent court decision that protected a salesman’s off-label marketing activities as free speech.