34
This week, HSCA President Curtis Rooney released a statement on new legislation introduced by Senators Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Michael Bennett (D-CO), Charles Grassley (R-IA) and Herb Kohl (D-WI) that would require implementation of a Unique Device Identification (UDI) system for medical devices. Rooney states:
“The ability to track and recall faulty medical devices is critical to protecting the health of American patients... Unique device identifiers will help ensure that patients can be quickly located and alerted in the event of a recall, and that patients do not continue to use devices that may be harmful to their health.”
Rooney goes on to mention the delay in UDI implementation by the Office of Management and Budget, a statute mandated by Congress five years ago “with broad support from hospitals, healthcare providers, and patient and consumer advocates.”