Washington, D.C. – The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA) today applauded Congressional leaders for agreeing on a $1.1 trillion omnibus spending package that will fund the federal government through the end of September 2014, increase funding for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and restore $85 million in funding lost last year due to the sequestration of FDA user fees. Since sequestration cuts went into effect in March 2013, the FDA has not had access to the full amount of the user fees submitted by manufacturers with their medical device applications, which help improve the efficiency and predictability of the decision-making process. “MITA applauds the bipartisan efforts to fully fund the FDA and release sequestered user fees so that the FDA can continue to improve the medical device review program,” said Gail Rodriguez, executive director of MITA. “This timing is critical, as remarkable advances in imaging and radiation therapy technologies are on the horizon, and these sequestered user fees will be used to bring more innovative technologies to market in a timely manner for the benefit of patients.” Both the House and Senate are expected to pass the spending bill this week, and the White House has indicated that President Obama will sign the bill it into law. ###
The Medical Imaging & Technology Alliance (MITA), a division of NEMA, is the collective voice of medical imaging equipment, radiation therapy and radiopharmaceutical manufacturers, innovators and product developers. It represents companies whose sales comprise more than 90 percent of the global market for medical imaging technology and radiation therapy. For more information, visit www.medicalimaging.org. Follow MITA on Twitter @MITAToday.