Senate HELP Committee Advances PREVENTS Pandemic Act

March 16, 2022

The Senate HELP Committee on Tuesday voted 20-2 to advance legislation, the PREVENTS Pandemic Act (S. 3799), to enhance the government’s ability to prevent and respond to future public health emergencies.

The wide-ranging legislation included provisions impacting the medical device industry – in particular voluntary reporting of medical device shortages outside of a public health emergency and a mandate that companies develop risk mitigation plans subject to FDA inspection.

As a result of industry input, devices used during surgery were removed from the list of products covered by voluntary reporting. Language was also included aimed at limiting the burden of required redundancy measures.

Senator Romney (R-UT), a member of the HELP Committee, voted for the bill, commenting in a press statement, “We need to learn from our mistakes and ensure that in the event of another pandemic, the United States is ready with the data we need to make smart decisions for the American public.” 

View Initial Legislative Text of the PREVENT Pandemics Act HERE.

View text of the managers’ amendment the Committee passed HERE.