Tariffs will increase medical supply chain costs by $160M, hospitals warn

Tariffs on Chinese imports will cause a $160 million rise in hospital supply chain costs next year, according to an estimate from the American Hospital Association (AHA). The estimate was delivered to U.S. Secretary of Commerce Wilbur Ross in a letter intended "to strongly oppose the tariffs that have been imposed on medical equipment and medical products imported from China that are used in hospitals, as well as potential tariffs under consideration that would impact the health care field."In the letter, AHA executive vice president Thomas P. Nickels warns healthcare costs for consumers will rise as result of the increased materials costs.