The Trump administration will move forward with a 25 percent tariff on medical and surgical products imported from China — a move healthcare improvement company Premier calls an assault on the healthcare industry because it will hurt hospital margins.
The additional cost of tariffs on medical and surgical products will increase supply costs for hospitals, and providers will have to foot the bill, argues Blair Childs, senior vice president of public affairs for Premier.
As a result, hospitals will face increased fiscal pressure during a time when margins are already strained.
"This is an assault on an industry that is already facing dire financial strains, with margins at a 10-year low of minus 9.6 percent," Mr. Childs said. "Premier is extremely disappointed with the administration’s plans to move ahead with [the tariff]."
Read Mr. Childs' full statement here.