The Advanced Medical Technology Association on Monday laid out a set of policy recommendations it says should be implemented in order to maintain the United States' position as the world leader in medical technology innovation.

"We know medical technology has a bright future. The question is: will that future be made in America—or somewhere else?" AdvaMed President and CEO Stephen J. Ubl said in a statement. "Without the right public policies in place to provide a level playing field between the U.S. and foreign competitors, America’s leadership will be lost.”

 AdvaMed's "Competitiveness Agenda" contains six broad policy imperatives:

• Innovation in the life sciences must be a government priority, including requiring an innovation impact statement for significant new regulations that affect the health sector;
• The FDA review process must be reformed to reduce total review times. American patients should have as prompt access to new treatments as European patients do;
• Payment policies of Medicare, Medicaid and private insurers must support medical innovation and not penalize early adopters of new treatments and cures;
• A vigorous trade policy must support export growth and provide a level playing field for U.S.-based manufacturing;
• Strategic tax policies to level the playing field must be implemented, including improvements to the R&D tax credit to keep it competitive with other countries;
• The American research and development infrastructure must be sustained and improved. Special emphasis should be placed on creating research structures that support commercialization of the R&D.

MD+DI's Thomas Blair has a more in-depth look at the association's request for the creation of a White House Office of Medical Innovation Policy. 

—Jamie Hartford