Happy 3rd birthday, MassDevice!
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. GAO: FDA “inconsistent” in meeting performance goals
The FDA met most performance goals between 2003 and 2010, but was inconsistent in its review of pre-market approval applications, especially those marked "expedited," according to a Government Accountability Office report.
6. St. Jude’s recalled Riata plagued with problems, but docs upbeat on Durata
St. Jude Medical’s recalled Riata defibrillator leads have multiple issues that could lead to malfunction, a new study reports, but doctors are optimistic that the company’s Durata leads aren’t prone to the same defects.
5. What happens to the med-tech tax if Obamacare goes down?
Even if the U.S. Supreme Court finds a key provision of the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act to be unconstitutional, it’s likely the medical device tax will live to fight another day.
4. Medical device tax becomes a political pinball
The 2.3% medical device tax set to start next year has become a political pinball, surfacing in the run for the Republican nomination and at least 2 Senate races.
3. Device tax spurs Hill-Rom to lay off 200
Hill-Rom Holdings (NYSE:HRC) said it will lay off about 3% of its workforce, or roughly 200 workers, as it maneuvers to confront the medical device tax set to go into effect next year.
2. “The first rule of being disruptive is having people who believe they can change the world”
MassDevice.com discusses innovation, robotic surgery and Silicon Valley culture with Intuitive Surgical CEO Gary Guthart.
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1. Medical device tax revenues could top $2B next year
A MassDevice.com analysis shows that the medical device tax set to go into place next year could generate significantly more revenue than the $2 billion a year the Obama administration projected.
