Category Archives: Policy News
Reddyport’s New Non-Invasive Ventilation Products to Allow Patient Communication/Oral Care is Funded Through Launch
ReddyPort has announced it has raised Seed Funding to support launch of its non-invasive ventilation (NIV) products in 2021. Tony Lair, the former CEO of NeoMed (acquired by Avanos), led the investment round with participation from existing and new investors, including Spring Bay Ventures and MedMountain Ventures. Tony Lair will join ReddyPort’s Board of Directors. […]
Congress Passes $900 Billion COVID Stimulus Package While Trump Calls for $2,000 in Direct Payments
Both the House of Representatives and the Senate passed on Monday a more than $900 billion COVID-19 stimulus package. The long-awaited and much needed assistance comes after months of protracted wrangling between the parties. As of this writing, President Trump did not say he would veto the bill but he asked Congress to amend it […]
Congress Nears Deal on COVID-19 Stimulus Package
Leaders of both parties inched closer on Thursday to agreement on a COVID-19 stimulus package. The package would include more funding for PPP loans, allow a second loan draw for hard-hit small businesses and streamline forgiveness for loans of $150,000 or less. In addition, the measure is expected to include some level of direct payments […]
Drug Industry Trade Groups File Lawsuits on Most-Favored-Nation Pricing Rule
The Trump administration recently announced an interim final rule to implement the Most Favored Nation drug pricing model, which would tie prices of certain Medicare Part B drugs to the lowest prices paid in Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) countries. In response, drug industry trade groups have filed two lawsuits against the administration on December […]
BioUtah Letter on Prioritizing Life Sciences Workers for Vaccine Distribution
December 3, 2020 Mr. Rich Lakin, MSPH, MPA Immunizations Director Utah Department of Health Bureau of Epidemiology PO Box 142102 Salt Lake City, UT 84114-2102 Dear Director Lakin: As a state plan for the allocation of COVID-19 vaccinations is formulated, BioUtah urges you to include employees of Utah’s life sciences companies among priority recipients of […]
BIO to Issue Legal Challenge to Most Favored Nation Rule
A letter written by BIO’s president and CEO Michelle McMurry-Heath dated December 4, 2020. Dear BIO Members, Today BIO, together with California Life Sciences Association (CLSA) and BIOCOM California, will announce our plan to challenge the Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) attempt, during the final days of the Trump Administration, to implement for […]
Who’s First In Line for the COVID Vaccine? CDC’s Immunization Advisory Committee Makes Recommendations
With the first shipments of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine scheduled to arrive in a matter of weeks and Moderna doses soon after, a big question looms: who gets them first? Independent health policy experts on the vaccine advisory committee to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) met this week to make a recommendation. The CDC Advisory Committee on […]
BioUtah Urges State to Prioritize Life Sciences Workers in COVID-19 Vaccine Plan
With the CDC’s prioritization recommendations as guidance, states will make the final decisions about vaccine allocation in their states. The Utah Department of Health, Department of Public Safety along with Governor Herbert and Governor-Elect Cox are actively working to refine the state’s initial COVID-19 Vaccination Plan. An anticipated vaccination timeline can be viewed here. BioUtah […]
Representative McAdams Honored with the 2020 Champion of Health Care Innovation Award
In a virtual December 3 ceremony, the American Life Sciences Innovation Council (ALSIC), BioUtah and several state and local-based patient organizations, presented Rep. Ben McAdams (UT-4) with the 2020 Champion of Health Care Innovation Award. The award recognizes McAdams for his work in Congress to protect and nurture the important policies that position Utah and […]
Gov.-Elect Cox and Lt. Gov.-Elect Henderson Announce Key Appointments, More to Come
SALT LAKE CITY (Dec. 2, 2020) – Gov.-elect Spencer Cox and Lt. Gov.-elect Deidre Henderson have announced another round of key appointments who will join their administration after they take the Oath of Office in January. Brittney Cummins, who has served as a member of the Utah State Board of Education since 2014, will join […]
A Farewell Message from GOED’s Val Hale
I frequently remind my team and legislators that economic development is a journey, not a destination. And what a journey it has been for me the last six-and-a-half years! When Gov. Gary Herbert asked me to take this job in 2014, Utah was still feeling the residual effects of the Great Recession. However, our economy […]
