Press Releases

Today Congressmen Jim Banks (IN-03) and Scott Peters (CA-52) hosted a bipartisan roundtable with Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) Secretary David Shulkin, other members of the VA leadership team and representatives from medical device manufacturers to discuss the high amount of late payments for medical devices procured by the VA. Several Hoosier medical device manufacturers, the Advanced Medical Technology Association (AdvaMed) and House Veterans Affairs Committee Chairman Phil Roe (TN-01) took part in the discussion.

“If the VA continues to lag in reimbursing these companies, it runs the risk of depriving veterans of access to these critical technologies and undermines the mission of the department,” Banks said. “Today’s roundtable was a good step in bringing together medical device companies and Secretary Shulkin to talk about why the VA has been late, in some cases even two years late, in paying medical device manufacturers. I look forward to working with Secretary Shulkin and the Hoosier medical device industry to address this issue and ensure the needs of our veterans are being met.”

“The sacrifice our nation’s veterans and their families make on our behalf of our country cannot be understated, and I believe we all have an obligation to ensure they receive the highest quality care, including access to the best medical technology available,” AdvaMed President and CEO Scott Whitaker said. “Therefore, it is essential that current inefficiencies in the VA’s medtech procurement process be resolved as expeditiously as possible, so that purchases and supplies of needed medical technologies are unimpeded, and no veteran has to wait for the treatment they need and deserve. AdvaMed and our member companies greatly appreciate the work of Rep. Banks, Rep. Peters, and the House Veterans Affairs Committee to highlight current industry challenges. We also commend the VA for their willingness to maintain a constructive dialogue. We look forward to continuing to collaborate with both Congress and the VA to solve today’s challenges and provide the best care and treatment options possible for our nation’s veterans and their families.”

“I’m grateful to Reps. Banks and Peters for hosting today’s roundtable discussion, and I look forward to continuing our work to improve VA’s processes for purchasing medical supplies,” Chairman Roe said.

Background: Earlier this year, Congressman Banks heard from several medical device companies in his district who had received late payments or no payment at all from the VA. In June, Congressman Banks led a bipartisan letter to VA Secretary David Shulkin on the issue.

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Interested members of the media contact Anna Swick at anna.swick@mail.house.gov