The CAP is urging the Department of Commerce to exempt medical devices and lab supplies from tariffs to ensure continued access to essential diagnostic materials.
The stakes: In a letter sent August 22, the CAP expressed the need for affordable diagnostic products, including test kits and pipette tips, which are crucial for accurate and timely patient care.
- Tariffs on these products increase costs, which affects clinical testing, particularly in rural and medically underserved areas, the CAP said.
- Tariffs also pose the risk of decreasing innovation and limiting testing capabilities, which could significantly influence public health.
- Without exemptions, growing financial pressures on health care providers will limit access to necessary testing and innovation.
Go deeper: Read our letter to Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick.