Premier Submits Statement for the Record on House Hearing Regarding Device Sterilization

This week, Premier submitted comments to the House Energy and Commerce Subcommittee Environment, Manufacturing and Critical Materials in connection with a hearing held Wednesday, October 18, titled "Exposing EPA Efforts to Limit Chemicals Needed for Life-Saving Medical Devices and Other Essential Products.”

Among other topics, the Subcommittee discussed EPA’s proposed rules around regulation of ethylene oxide, commonly used in sterilization of medical devices. Premier previously submitted comments to EPA in connection with the agency’s proposed rule.

Premier is equally dedicated to weighing environmental responsibilities with our ability to sustain patient care across the country. However, Premier continues to have concerns that the proposed rule issued by EPA does not adequately balance the need to protect and enhance environmental stewardship in the communities we serve with preventing medical device shortages and downstream impact to patient care.

Premier believes there are opportunities to balance these needs and proactively mitigate potential medical device shortages through public-private collaboration.