On April 13, CBSA members and MedTech leaders gathered at the annual Colorado BioScience Association Medical Device Symposium to discover emerging and cutting-edge trends in medical breakthroughs, gain insights on the pulse of the industry as MedTech adjusts to a new post-pandemic landscape, and take an in-depth look at public policy shaping the U.S. MedTech sector. 

Innovative medical technologies are transforming patient care around the world and MedTech in Colorado is growing strong with more than 2,200 devices in development or distribution.  Many of the most promising innovations are being developed at the intersection of devices, drugs, diagnostics, and digital health. 

Policy Update

Roxy Kozyckyj, State Government & Regional Affairs at AdvaMed, and Amy Goodman, CBSA Vice President and Counsel for Policy + Advocacy, provided a thorough MedTech policy update that covered federal policy issues, national trends across the states, and Colorado-specific updates on issues affecting our ecosystem.  

The Colorado policy update covered: 

• CBSA opposed HB22-1244, which is being implemented now: Created a new program in the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE) to regulate toxic air contaminants. 
• CBSA supports HB23-1110, Biomarker Testing Coverage: Would require insurance coverage for biomarker testing supported by nationally recognized clinical practice guidelines for diagnosis, treatment, and disease management. 
• CBSA is monitoring HB23-1136, Prosthetic Devices for Recreational Activity: Would require health insurance plans regulated by the state to provide coverage for an additional prosthetic device for a covered person if their treating physician determines that it is necessary for them to engage in physical and recreational activity. 
• CBSA supports SB23-066, Advanced Industry Acceleration Programs: Would reauthorize the Advanced Industries Accelerator Grant Programs, administered by Colorado’s Office of Economic Development and International Trade (OEDIT),  for another ten years.
• CBSA supports HB23-1260, Advanced Industry and Semiconductor Manufacturing Incentives: Would, among other things, create an Advanced Manufacturing and STEM Industries Task Force within OEDIT.
• CBSA supports HB23-1198, Teacher Externship Program for STEM Disciplines: Would establish a teacher externship program allowing K-12 teachers to participate in experiential learning opportunities with employers to gain knowledge and expand their curriculum in the STEM disciplines.
• CBSA opposed HB23-1118, Fair Workweek Employment Standards: Would have required certain employers to follow strict rules related to employee scheduling. This bill was killed.

Key state affairs issues for which national trends were addressed included: 

• Biomarker Testing​ 
• Data Privacy​ 
• Right to Repair​ 
• PFAS & Phthalates​ 
• Sterilization  

Finally, the federal policy update covered: 

• TCET: Transitional Coverage for Emerging Technologies  
• R&D Expensing
• TRIPS: Trade Related Aspects of IP Rights  
• PAHPA: Pandemic and All-Hazards Preparedness Act  
• CHIPS: Creating Helpful Incentives to Produce Semiconductors and Science Act 
• VALID: Verifying Accurate Leading-edge IVCT Development Act  
• FTC’s Proposed Rule on Banning Non-Compete Agreements 

The Symposium 

Thank you to our keynote speaker, Antoinette Gawin, President & CEO of Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, for kicking off the symposium by sharing insights on leadership, purpose, and Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies’ mission to make life saving and changing technologies accessible to patients globally. 
 
Thank you also to John Heinbigner, Partner at EY, who spoke on industry trends, exploring EY’s Pulse of the Industry Medical Technology Report. 
 
Finally, our Intersections in Medical Device Innovation panel wrapped up programming with an engaging discussion about innovation in hospital-to-home technologies. The panel, moderated by Tony Caldwell, Partner at Snell & Wilmer, included Frank Chan, President, Patient Monitoring, Medtronic; James Mault, MD, FACS, CEO & Chairman, BioIntelliSense; Natasha Bond, President, ERI Group; William Jaworski, Sales Director, Mikron Corporation Denver; and planned panelist Kimberly Muller, Executive Director, CU Innovations, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus (although she was not able to attend due to a last-minute conflict). 

Thank You 

Thank you to our event sponsors, Snell & Wilmer, CSA Group, EY, AdvaMed, Mikron Automation, and Terumo Blood and Cell Technologies, for making the symposium possible. 

Also, thank you to our exhibitors, Fisher Scientific, LeafTech Consulting, AdvaMed, BoulderIQ, RedDrop DX, CSA Group, Mikron Automation, and Terumo Blood & Cell Technologies and to our emcee, Daniel S. Wittenberg, Co-Chair of the Life Science & Med Tech Industry Group at Snell & Wilmer.

Thank you to CSA Group, for hosting our networking happy hour – CBSA is grateful for the opportunity to connect our community.