Radiologists 'deeply concerned' about further tariffs on medical imaging devices
The American College of Radiology is urging the Trump administration to protect medical imaging and radiation therapy devices from potential tariffs.
Last month, the Department of Commerce launched an investigation into the importing of such items, seeking to determine the impact on national security. The notice pertains to CT scanners, MRI machines, X-ray apparatuses and other radiologic equipment, along with medical items such as personal protective equipment (PPE).
Commerce is mulling whether tariffs or other measures are necessary to “protect national security,” and it is accepting comments through today, Oct. 17. ACR—which represents over 40,000 physicians across diagnostic and interventional radiology, radiation oncology, nuclear medicine and medical physics—shared its response in a news update posted Thursday. It is urging the feds against imposing any new fees on the imaging industry.
“The ACR is deeply concerned about the potential impact, particularly on patient access and the cost of care, from tariffs on devices utilized by the above noted physicians and physicists in their practices,” CEO Dana Smetherman, MD, MBA, MPH, wrote in comments submitted to the department on Oct. 13. “These essential technologies enable hospitals, imaging centers and other medical facilities to deliver high-quality, cost-effective diagnostic and therapeutic care,” she added. “While the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the need for increased domestic production of PPE and medical consumables, the same need is less relevant to capital medical equipment.”
ACR is urging the Department of Commerce to differentiate such advanced, high-cost technologies from other medical consumables examined during the investigation. It notes that CT and MRI scanners are developed by global companies, which have invested heavily in the U.S. About 70% of the U.S. medical technology market is manufactured domestically at facilities operating across all 50 states. Investments in the industry have increased the number of domestic jobs, which continue to grow at a faster rate than the overall U.S. manufacturing sector, ACR noted.
Smetherman contended additional fees would drive up the cost of developing new imaging technology while delaying important breakthroughs.
“Any tariffs or fees levied on imported medical devices or their components would add financial burden to an already strained U.S. healthcare system,” she wrote. “In addition, imposing tariffs on imported medical devices—particularly imaging and therapy technology such as CT, MRI or radiation oncology equipment—would increase the cost of essential diagnostic and therapeutic equipment and services. These increased costs would be felt initially by hospitals and other provider facilities, but the ultimate burden would fall on patients through increased out-of-pocket expenses from higher co-payments and deductibles, increased insurance premiums and larger hospital bills.”
“U.S. patients depend on medical technology and devices for lifesaving treatment and care,” Smetherman added. “Any policy decisions that jeopardize the availability of this equipment should be made with patient care at the forefront.”
AdvaMed—an imaging industry lobbying group that represents numerous manufacturers—also commented on the investigation last month. Reuters reported previously that the so-called “Section 232” inquiry could potentially be used as a “basis for higher import tariffs on a wide swath of medical and industrial goods.”
Marty Stempniak has covered healthcare since 2012, with his byline appearing in the American Hospital Association's member magazine, Modern Healthcare and McKnight's. Prior to that, he wrote about village government and local business for his hometown newspaper in Oak Park, Illinois. He won a Peter Lisagor and Gold EXCEL awards in 2017 for his coverage of the opioid epidemic.