MDMA Marks 15 Years of Advocacy for Medical Technology Industry

MDMA Marks 15 Years of Advocacy for Medical Technology Industry

Washington, D.C., February 27, 2007 -- The Medical Device Manufacturers Association (MDMA) celebrates its 15th anniversary by reaffirming its original commitment to improved patient care through medical technology innovation.

MDMA, the voice of the innovative, research-intensive medical device, diagnostic and information systems industry, was formed in 1992 [to advocate for the industry in the face of an overly aggressive federal regulatory scheme]. Today, the association has emerged as a formidable advocate and indispensable negotiating partner to key governmental health care agencies and other health care groups in the formulation of public policy.

Nancy M. Briefs, MDMA Board Chair and president and CEO of Smoothshapes, Inc., said: “MDMA has always stood for the proposition that technology innovation results in improved patient outcomes and an overall reduction in health care costs. In the coming years we will build on MDMA’s achievements and reputation by working harder than ever to provide the most advanced patient-care tools and resources to health professionals as rapidly as possible.”

MDMA Executive Director Mark Leahey added that MDMA’s anniversary celebration will be brief because “we have a very busy year ahead, ensuring that the entrepreneurial, often-small innovator firm is heard in Washington.”

For example, he said, MDMA will continue to meet with the FDA and Congress to promote policies that provide patients with timely access to safe and effective products. The association also will continue its efforts on Capitol Hill to ensure that member companies have equal access to the hospital marketplace through reform of the group purchasing organizations (GPO) system. “We’ll also be educating lawmakers about our concerns with so-called ‘gainsharing’ schemes, in addition to staying out in front of coverage and payment issues,” Leahey said.

Informative MDMA Conferences Examine Policy Issues, Market Strategies

Two important upcoming events reinforce MDMA’s commitment to improved patient care through policy development and effective commercial marketplace strategies:

• A one-day educational conference, Commercialization of Medical Devices, Successful Strategies for Getting Your Products to Market, an Industry Perspective (March 22, Washington, D.C.). Participants will interact with leading healthcare executives who will share their real-world experience in successfully executing a wide range of product commercialization approaches, and will learn more than six proven strategies for the commercialization of medical devices, as well as discuss those best suited to various types of products and companies.
• The MDMA Annual Meeting, Celebrating 15 Years of Achievement 1992 – 2007, convenes industry leaders, members of Congress, and senior administration officials to address the opportunities and challenges facing the medical technology sector.Confirmed speakers include FDA Commissioner Andrew von Eschenbach, M.D., and Daniel G. Schultz, M.D. director of FDA’s Center for Devices & Radiological Health. This important conference will take place May 17-18 in Washington, D.C.

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MDMA is a national trade association based in Washington that represents independent manufacturers of medical devices, diagnostic products and health care information systems. For more information about our upcoming events and membership please visit www.medicaldevices.org or call (202) 354-7171.