Cardiology groups among the voices concerned about more medical device tariffs
Multiple U.S. healthcare organizations have weighed in on the Trump administration potentially implementing new tariffs on medical devices. There are concerns that additional tariffs would increase costs for hospitals and health systems, creating new challenges that could delay patient care.
Key context about the potential of new tariffs
In September, the U.S. Department of Commerce (DOC) announced it was considering new tariffs on personal protective equipment (PPE) and all medical devices, including transcatheter heart valves, pacemakers and medical imaging systems. The DOC wanted to know more about the current and projected demand for these items and identify whether or not other countries have been utilizing “predatory trade practices.”
The DOC was seeking public input on this topic, and the deadline to submit a comment was Oct. 17. Hundreds of public comments were provided, and they will be part of the materials presented to President Donald Trump by his advisors.
The DOC investigation and all related public comments are not expected to influence U.S. trade policies in 2025. Instead, this would all lay the groundwork for policy decisions made in 2026 and beyond.
Click here to read the full DOC document, “Notice of Request for Public Comments on Section 232 National Security Investigation of Imports of Personal Protective Equipment, Medical Consumables, and Medical Equipment, Including Devices.”
American Hospital Association shares concerns
The American Hospital Association (AHA), which represents nearly 5,000 hospitals and more than 270,000 physicians from all healthcare specialties, said it shares the Trump administration’s long-term goal of strengthening the domestic manufacturing of PPE and medical devices. However, the group emphasized that adding new tariffs could have a negative impact on hospitals throughout the country.
“In the short term, we are concerned that tariffs on these critical goods—and any retaliatory action from the countries on which tariffs are imposed—could inadvertently disrupt the availability of diagnostic and treatment tools and hinder access to PPE that is essential to protecting the workforce and patients,” the AHA wrote. “Tariffs and retaliatory actions from other nations also could significantly raise hospital costs.”
The AHA also noted that “supply chain stability” is necessary to ensure complex medical devices can be assembled and used to protect the health of patients. It is not as simple as just moving manufacturing plants to the United States, the group explained, because even many devices built in this country include additional parts that were built elsewhere.
“For example, a typical U.S.-made infusion pump can contain parts from more than 20 countries, while a single magnetic resonance imaging machine can include parts from 15 countries,” the AHA wrote. “Furthermore, even domestic medical supply chains are prone to disruption, as illustrated by the lingering shortages of IV fluids stemming from the impacts of Hurricane Helene on a large North Carolina production facility in 2024.”
One of the AHA’s biggest concerns is the fact that new tariffs could increase costs for hospitals and health systems.
“Tariffs could have a particularly significant impact on complex medical devices that are higher cost and lower volume, in part due to requiring specialized parts and customization to meet the needs of health care providers,” according to the AHA.
Read more from the AHA here.
AdvaMed praises U.S. medtech industry, recommends ‘lower tariffs’
AdvaMed, a large trade association representing U.S. medtech companies, also shared its public comments about this issue. The organization praised the “flourishing” U.S. medtech industry and listed several AdvaMed member companies that are already working to open new manufacturing facilities in the United States. AdvaMed specifically called out “tax relief and other pro-growth policies enacted under both Trump administrations” as key reasons for the medtech industry’s continued success.
However, AdvaMed also noted that the medtech tariffs imposed in April 2025 have caused U.S. companies to make certain adjustments. Spending more to bring in key devices and parts, for example, results in fewer dollars going toward R&D.
Another key takeaway from AdvaMed is the fact that medtech companies have very little flexibility when it comes to reacting to new tariffs.
“Manufacturers cannot easily pivot to new suppliers, absent multi-year lead times and multi-million-dollar investments,” the trade association explained. “This environment is particularly challenging for small- and medium-sized enterprises, many of whom are driving innovation in our industry. These companies may eventually be less able to absorb such costs and delays and potentially become forced out of business. At a minimum, tariffs that cannot be absorbed would likely lead to supply disruptions and cost increases.”
Ultimately, AdvaMed pushed for “lower tariffs combined with supportive policies” as a way to protect the U.S. medtech industry and help the country’s manufacturers continue to thrive.
A statement from AdvaMed is available here. Its full comments can be read here.
Heart Valve Disease Task Force points to possible delays in care, increased costs
The Heart Valve Disease Policy Task Force, a coalition of like-minded professional organizations such as the American Society of Echocardiography and Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy Association, also provided feedback for the DOC investigation. The task force began by underlining just how essential cardiovascular devices are to the patients who use them; even the shortest delay can make a significant impact.
“Cardiovascular care depends on timely access to advanced medical technologies, from diagnostic imaging systems and monitoring equipment to artificial valves, catheters, and surgical instruments,” the group wrote. “These devices are not optional; they are essential to detecting, repairing, and replacing diseased heart valves, often in time-sensitive or life-threatening circumstances. Any policy that increases costs or disrupts supply chains risks delaying care for patients whose health depends on immediate access to these technologies.”
The task force also pointed to the impact tariffs could have on patient care.
“The potential imposition of tariffs on medical devices, consumables and related equipment could significantly raise costs across the healthcare system,” the group wrote. “Hospitals, surgical centers, and cardiology practices, many already under strain from workforce shortages and rising operating expenses, would have limited ability to absorb new costs. As a result, patients could face higher out-of-pocket expenses, postponed procedures, or reduced access to the most advanced valve repair and replacement options. For individuals with progressive valve disease, even short delays in treatment can result in worsening symptoms, hospitalizations, or preventable deaths.”
Michael has more than 19 years of experience as a professional writer and editor. He has written at length about cardiology, radiology, artificial intelligence and other key healthcare topics.