“We were forced to collaborate with such speed and collective work, and collective passion, and the results were very good. That’s going to shape how we think about public policy I think from this point on.”

Scott Whitaker, president and CEO of AdvaMed, didn’t have “respond to a global pandemic” on his five-year strategy plan when he took the helm of the powerful device industry trade association in 2016. The unexpected challenges have been steep, with the industry he represents at the center of the pandemic narrative. But Whitaker has been heartened by industry’s ability to rally to the challenge. And he believes that his work, the work of government advocacy, has been strengthened by the experience. The need for industry to work with policymakers in new ways to achieve quicker action in response to the emergency has enhanced appreciation for productive partnerships on both sides, he says. He thinks that dynamic will be lasting, beyond pandemic policies.

More productive government-industry partnerships would certainly help over the next months, and year, as the device industry’s DC representatives face having to start from square one following CMS’ recent repeal of the Medicare Coverage of Innovative Technology program, bringing challenging user fee negotiations with FDA to a close, and engaging in what could be a very active congressional session for medtech in the mix of election-year politics. Whitaker talks about those issues and more with Market Pathways Executive Editor David Filmore.

Relevant articles: MCIT Rule May Be Toast, But There’s More on the Medicare Menu: https://bit.ly/3i1SiEj
Capitol Hill Staffers are Impatient for Device User Fee Deal: https://bit.ly/2ZDJdM9
Pathways’ Picks November 17: Big Week in Washington, Aussie Reclassifications, China Picks, and More: https://bit.ly/3xLOvSs

View the latest issue of Market Pathways: https://bit.ly/3uSbUzS

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Your premium guide to global medical device regulation, reimbursement and policy. Market Pathways delivers incomparable intelligence exploring the people, challenges, and opportunities impacting the global medtech regulatory and reimbursement community. View the latest issue of Market Pathways on MyStrategist.com

AdvaMed’s Scott Whitaker on Partnering and Advocacy